Beckenbauer in Accra for German World Cup bid

Black Stars beat Tunisia 2-0 in friendly. 

Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th January 2000

Football legend, Franz Beckenbauer of Germany, arrived in Accra on Tuesday at the head of his country’s delegation to drum up African support for their bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Germany, South Africa, Brazil, England and Morocco are to present papers on the second day of the two-day Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Congress, which begins on Wednesday, on why they should host the tournament.

CAF President Issa Hayatou and Coach E. K. Afranie of the Ministry of Youth and Sports met Beckenbauer on arrival.

He told a news conference that even though there is the need for an African country to host World Cup he was hoping that Germany will win the bid and share its experience with Africa.

When asked whether the beating of the French gendarme by German fans during the France '98 World Cup last would affect their bid, he answered: "no" saying "it was an unfortunate situation and that the issue of hooliganism, which was not limited to Germany alone".

Beckenbauer who is the President of Bayern Munich Football Club where two Ghanaians Samuel Osei Kuffour and Christian Saba play, attributed the downward trend of the German National team to dominance of foreign players in the country's league.

He said that it was peculiar to Germany and added that there are plans to rejuvenate the team.

From Ghana, the German delegation will move to South America to continue with their campaign.

FIFA will decide on the host of the 2006 World Cup next July.

GRi

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Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th January 2000

The National team, the Black Stars, on Tuesday beat their Tunisian counterparts 2-0 in an international friendly soccer match at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The match was played before behind ‘closed doors’ because of CAF’s regulation disallowing teams participating in a tournament to engage each other in a match five days before the competition.

Kwame Ayew scored both goals, one in each half.

The first goal came when the Tunisian Goal keeper blocked Peter Ofori Qauye's goal bound shot and Ayew connected the rebound.

The second goal came late in the second half when a cross from Ebenezer Dugbatey was nodded home after a break from the Ghanaian defence.

GRi

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