GRi Sports 01-03-99

Soccer-Mali beat Angola 3-1 in fifth group A match.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March, 

Mali beat Angola 3-1 in their final group A match of the African Under-20 Youth tournament played at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday.

Two goals from inside left Seydou Keita 42 minutes and 52nd minutes, and a third by substitute, Mahamadou Dissa in the 86th minute sealed victory for the Malians.

The Angolans, who got their lone and only goal in the tournament through Paulo Zanga Pedro in the 15th minute, ended the group matches without a point. They, therefore, become the first team to say goodbye to Ghana '99.

The Malians went straight into the Angolan goal area soon after referee Monteiro Duarte of Cape Verde had signalled both teams into action.

Midfielder, Tuonkara Bakou took a pass from his half, raced down the right flank and sent a cross into the path of Keita, who planted it into the net for the fastest goal of the tournament so far.

It erased the 43 seconds goal netted by Nigeria against Guinea in a group B match in Kumasi last Monday.

The Angolans, with their pride at stake, repulsed the attack and had the equaliser 15 minutes later through Pedro when he scored from a two-man move.

Surprisingly, the Angolans recoiled into their shells after the equaliser, allowing the Malians to dominate the game but they were not able to score because of erratic shooting up-front.

Right full back, Adama Coulibaly of Mali received the first yellow card for rough play in the 20th minute.

Mali brought on Youssouf Coulibaly for left full back Bacayoko Mamadou in the 29th minute while the Angolans substituted left winger Miranda Antonio for Taveres Pereira in the 37th minute.

It was the Angolans, who nearly went ahead before half time but right full back Baptista Refato's shot from Luis Manuel's pass missed the target narrowly in the 41st minute.

Both teams came back from the recess with a substitution each. Mali pulled out right back Lassana Coulibaly for Mahamadou Dissa and Angola brought on Morias Sebastio Agost for Flavio Da Silva.

The Malians benefited from the change as they kept the Angolan goal area boiling.

Their persistent pressure bore fruit in the 52nd minute when right winger Tenema Ndiaye dribbled three Angolans on the run and sent a pass to Seydou Keita, who shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Lius Mamona of Angola into the net.

Keita nearly scored again in the 58th minute but this time the Angolan keeper was quick off his mark to push the ball to touch for a corner kick, which was wasted.

As the Malians kept up the pressure, the Angolans resorted to rough play and this earned Pedro the yellow card for bringing midfilder Tounkara Bakou of Mali down in the 71st minute.

Mali exhausted their substitution by bringing on Baba Cisse for Mamadou Diarra in the 75th minute.

With four minutes left to the end of the proceedings, Substitute Dissa slipped through the visibly tired Angolan defenders to score the third goal for his side.

Two-goal hero, Seydou Keita of Mali was voted the best player of the match.

He recieved a radio cassette recorder, donated by LG Electronics and a gospel compact disc album by Becky Singer from Mr E.T. Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports. Meanwhile, Mali leads the group A fair-play rankings with 9.71 points followed by Ghana with 9.5 points, Angola, 7.39 points and Cameroon, 6.57 points.

In group B, Nigeria tops with 9.40 points followed by Malawi with 9.35 points, Zambia 8.57 and Guinea, 7.24 points.

Line-up :

Mali - Keita Boubacar, Lassana Coulibaly/Mahamadou Dissa, Mamadou Bacayoko/Youssouf Coulibaly, Adama Coulibaly, Bakou Tounkara, Tenema Ndiaye, Mahamadou Diarra, Seydou Keita, Amadou Coilibaly, Abdoulaye Camara and Mahamadou Diarra/Baba Cissea.

Angola - Lius Mamona, Baptista Refato, Manuel Ferreira, Makuntima Sebastio, Monteiro De Assis, Pereira Da Silva. Joaquim Marcos, Paulo Zanga Pedro, Jose Manuel Lius/Antonio Mussuba, Mirinda Carlos/ Taveres Pereira and Flavio Da Silva/Morias Sebastio Agost

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March, 

The Black Satellites of Ghana drew 1-1 with the Lion Ceaux of Cameroon in the last group A match of the 11th Africa Under-20 youth soccer championship at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra Saturday.

Satellites, having won their two previous matches, topped the group with seven points followed by Cameroon with five.

Ghana will, therefore, meet the runners-up in group B in Accra, while Cameroon clash with the top team in group B in the semi-finals in Kumasi both on Thursday, March four.

Mali, who placed third in group A with four points, meet their group B counterparts on Wednesday, March three in a play off, at the Accra Sports Stadium, to determine the fourth team to join hosts Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Zambia in the World Fifa/Coca Cola championships, scheduled for Nigeria next April.

The Young Lions kicked off but it was the Satellites who made an early incursion and could have been up in the 18th minute but striker Baffour Gyan's close header from Owusu Afriyie's corner sailed off the cross bar.

Eight minutes later, Afriyie shot wide when he sneaked into the opponents' "18" and latched onto inside left Skelly Adu Tutu's pass.

The Cameroonians took control from then on and gave the Ghanaian defence a lot to worry about but they fumbled anytime they came close.

In the 45th minute Francios Dikoume took advantage of defender Issa Abdul Rahman's poor clearance to fire into the net for Cameroon's opener.

The two teams played a tactical game after the recess with Cameroon defending their lead while the Satellites were pushing more men forward.

Coach Dossena brought on Issa Mohammed in the 55th mimute and Awuley Quaye junior (57th) for Adu Tutu and Kofi Amoako respectively.

The substitutions paid off as Baffour Gyan beautifully connected Quaye's header inside the penalty area for the equaliser in the 76th minute.

The Young Lions took their turn as they brought on Modo Abouna Thiery for Francis Adissa Kioyo in the 81st minute and Komol Gaspard for Francois in the 90th minute but theirs did not alter the score line.

The best player of the match was Cameroonian midfielder Mbami Modeste. He was presented with a ghetto blaster, donated by LG Electronics and a gospel cassette by Becky Singer.

Ghana - Sammy Adjei, Baffour Gyan/Theophilus Amuzu, Issah Rahman, Abdul Razak, Hamza Mohammed, Skelly Adu-Tutu/Issah Mohammed, Kofi Amoako/Awuley Quaye Jnr, Laryea Kingston, Johnson Eklu, George Blay and Owusu Afriyie.

Cameroon - Carlos Kameni, Clement Lebe, Fils Moussonguide, Sugues Nznkeu, Modeste Mbami, Alain Inogue, Francis Kioyo/Thierry Modo, Francois Dikoume/Gaspard Komol, Jean-Pierre Tcheitchoua, Ibrahima Salifou and Blaise Mamoun/Georges Djama

Goal Scorers: Cameroon - Francois Dikoume (45)

Ghana - Baffour Gyan (76)

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March, 

Standings of group A teams after the final matches of the African Under-20 youth soccer tournament tonight in Accra.

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 1 March,  

Guinea beat fellow strugglers, Malawi 3-2 in the fifth group "B" match of the Africa Under-20 Youth Football Tournament at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in Kumasi Sunday.

The Malawians, who were more skilful, confused their opponents with deft touches and looked like sweeping the Guineans off their feet soon after they had kicked-off.

But the Guineans surprised them with the first goal in the ninth minute when Youle Soulaymane headed wide off goalkeeper Malunga Kachibowo into the net.

The Malawians had not settled when the Guineans struck again in the 17th minute as Camara Macdonald scored with a left-footed shot from 20 metres as the goalkeeper was caught flat-footed.

The Malawians were presented with a chance to score in the 26th minute when the Guinean defence was turned inside out, but Sangala George's shot from close range was saved.

Four minutes later, Malawi were denied a goal when Chirwa Maxwell rounded the defence but his shot hit the post as the Guinean goalkeeper Abdoulaye sprawled on the ground and the rebound was cleared.

Guinea raised the score to 3-0 through Camara Mohamed, who shot past goalkeeper Kachibowo in the 47th minute.

The fleet-footed Malawians, despite the handicap, attacked in bursts as the Guinean defence was pressurised and pulled a goal back in the 58th minute through Mwangonde Muzipasi.

The Malawians, cheered on by the sparse crowd, formed rings around the Guineans, who had to play it hard to stem the menacing moves of their opponents.

The Malawians appeared stronger as they piled on the pressure but their attackers failed to utilise the numerous chances they created.

Enraged Malawi missed a chance when Yobe Macdonald headed over the bar from Muzipasi's cross in the 77th minute as the goalkeeper was out of his posts.

Malawi were awarded a spot-kick in the 90th minute when over-lapping full back Peter Mponda was felled in the box.

Fazili Mbundi converted to bring the final score to 3-2.

Skipper Peter Mponda of Malawi won the best player award of the match.

Scorers:

Guinea: Youla Souleymane (9), Camara Mohamed (17, 47)

Malawi: Yobe Macdonald (58), Fazili Mbundi (90 pen)

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 1 March,  

Nigeria and Zambia settled for a goalless draw in a pulsating final Group B match of the Africa Under-20 soccer tournament played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in Kumasi tonight.

The result placed Nigeria at the top group B with seven points followed by Zambia with equal points but with an inferior goal aggregate.

The match started on a fast note with Nigeria earning the first corner-kick under a minute but it wasted.

The Zambians took total control of the game from then on and with swift accurate passes, they pinned the Nigerians to their own half but the well-knit Nigerian defence repelled the attacks.

It was Nigeria, who nearly raced into the lead against the run of play when Haruna Babangida cut lose from the right and centred but Sani Aminu and Garba Hashimu messed up the chance in the 14th minute.

The well-drilled Zambians bounced back and in a swift move Nigerian central defender John Aranka nearly conceded an own goal under pressure but the ball veered to corner. The resultant kick was wasted in the 26th minute.

The tempo of the game slowed down considerably in the second half as both teams had showed signs of tiredness.

Nigeria, who were slightly on top, earned a free-kick in the 46th minute just outside the Zambia penalty box but wasted it. They had another good chance in the 50th minute but Babangida, in a good position, shot aimlessly at goal.

Both sides made changes. Zambia pulled out Carvin Chisha for Stephen Kabwe and again brought in Bernard Makufi for Ian Bakala in the 70th, minute while Nigeria replaced Garba Hashimu with Julius Aghahowa in the 66th minute.

Andrew Sinkala of Zambia won the best player award.

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 1 March, 

Standings of group B teams after the final group matches of the Africa Under-20 youth soccer championship played in Kumasi tonight tabulated under play, win, lose, draw, goals for and goals against.

Accra, March 1, GNA-- Leading scorers in the Ghana '99 tournament at the end of the preliminary rounds matches played on Sunday.

4-Bangoura Ousmane (Guinea).

3-Musa Abubakar (Nigeria), Camara Mohammed (Guinea).

2- Issa Abdul Rahman (Ghana), Garba Hashimu, Haruna Babangida (Nigeria), Nsofwa Chaswe (Zambia).

1- Skelley Adu Tutu, Awule Quaye Jnr, Theophilus Amuza, Issah Mohammed and Baffour Gyan (Ghana), Joseph Yobo, Pius Ikeda (Nigeria), Lundu Ezzie (Zambia), Modeste Mbami (Cameroon) and Tenema Ndiaye (Mali), Sinkala Andrew, Festus Mangamu, Mkufi Benard, Emmanuel Zulu (Zambia) and Francois Dikoume (Cameroon), Youla Souleymane (Guinea), Yobe Macdonald and Fazili Mbundi (Malwi).

Accra, (Greater Accra) 1 March,  

Ghana's international star, Yaw Preko scored a hat-trick as the national senior team, the Black Stars whacked war-torn Eritrea 5-0 in their group one Africa Cup Nations' qualifying match played at the Accra sports stadium in Accra tonight.

The result put the Stars on top of the group's table with nine points from three matches, having beaten Cameroon 3-1 and Mozambique 1-0 in the two previous encounters. Striker Augustine Arhinful opened the floodgates in the fifth minute.

Preko took his turn in (27th, 56th, 84th) and Peter Ofori-Quaye (68) to send off the Eritreans.

In a one-sided match, the Stars took control from the kick-off and had the opener as early as the fifth minute through Arhinful from a well-taken corner kick by inside right Stephen Appiah.

Galvanised by that early goal, the Stars, backed by their drum-beating supporters, entertained the sizeable stadium fans with crisp passes and inter-positional changes, forcing their opponents to race after their own shadows.

Preko made it 2-0 in the 27th minute with a long drive. It was a quick counter attack initiated by right full back Chirstain Atta Gyan, who laid on a pass for Preko to deliver a long range shot into the roof of the net.

Skipper Charles Akunnor was booked in the 33rd minute for time wasting and seven minutes later inside right Maissiu Berhamie of Eritrea also took his turn for a reckless tackle.

Before the commencement of the second half, the Eritreans brought on Tedros Olmichel for striker Efriem Melles but it was the Stars, who scored a third goal in the 56th minute.

A beautiful two-man move between midfielder Mark Edusei and Arhinful split the Eritrean defence for Preko to take advantage of a lose ball and bang it into the net.

Outside left Peter Ofori-Quaye, who had a quiet day scored the fourth for Ghana after he had beaten the entire defence of the opponents and released a pile-driver inside the "18" in the 68th minute.

Appiah gave way to Patrick Allotey a minute after the goal while Otto Addo came on for Ofori Quaye in the 72nd minute.

The substitution paid off as Preko scored his personal third and the fifth for Ghana in the 84th minute.

Line-up :

Ghana - Richard Kingston, Christian Gyan, Stephen Baidoo, Osei Kuffour, Eben Dugbartey, Stephen Appiah/Patrick Allotey, Mark Edusei, Charles Akunnor/Otto Addo, Yaw Preko, Augustine Arhinful and Peter Ofori-Quaye/Felix Aboaye

Eritrea - Berhanie Arayia, Elias Debessay, Efriem Tewelde, Efrimi Beyine, Amanuel Eyassue, Abel Afwerke/Mana Mebratue, Natnael Mesfin, Maissiu Melles/Tedros Olmichel, Yedneskashow Shenmagues/Isaac Beyeme and Yonas Mengestab.

Scorers:

Ghana- Augustine Arhinful (5), Yaw Preko (27, 56, 84) Peter Ofori-Quaye (68).

Accra (Greater Accra), 1 March

Four of the continent's most powerful soccer nations- Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Zambia are through to the semi finals of the Ghana '99, scheduled for Thursday, March four.

In addition, the four have all qualified to represent Africa at the world U-20 World FIFA/Coca Cola championship in Nigeria next April.

But among the four, Ghana's Black Satellites could be described as the surprise team to have made it to Nigeria '99. No one, not even Ghanaian soccer fans, gave them a dog's chance in the preliminary stages of the tournament, let alone to qualify for the world tournament.

In their pre-tournament friendlies, the Satellites were humiliated 3-0 by Mali and even the the national under 17 team, the Black Starlets beat them 1-0.

Surprisingly, Mali, who eight months ago had no respect for the Satellites and one of the pre-tournament's favourites, are in a fix as to their qualification to the Nigerian championship.

They are waiting for a play-off against Guinea, on Wednesday March three.

The lucky winner on that day joins the top four in Nigeria '99.

Their performance against the Satellites prior to the championship was so impressive that both foreign and local media had no choice but to rate them high.

Alas, they succumbed to their old foes, the Satellites in the opening group A match by a lone goal via a penalty. The Malians, however, salvaged their sinking image with a 1-1 draw against Cameroon and a stunning 3-1 victory over Angola, who lost all their three matches in the group.

Guinea on the other hand, after putting up a splendid performance against Nigeria in group B, losing 3-4, were tipped to walk over the remaining group mates but shockingly went down 6-2 to Zambia and managed to beat Malawi, the weakest side in the group 3-2. Consistent Zambians registered their first victory 1-0 against Malawi and drew 0-0 with Nigeria, and trounced Malawi 5-0 to share the group's top spot with Nigeria, both of who are on seven points each.

Zambia, who placed second to Nigeria because of inferior goals aggregate, trek to Accra as guest of the Satellites in the first of the two semi-final matches while group A winners, Nigeria stay in Kumasi to welcome the Leon Ceaux of Cameroon in the second encounter.

Though attendance at the two stadiums so far could best be described as disappointing, the matches have not.

As at now, 41 goals, made up 26 from group B and 15 from group A, have been recorded Statistics show that Guinea has the weakest defence, conceding as many as 12 goals with only eight for while Angola and Malawi, the weakest sides, have each had nine goals into their nets with one and two goals in their favour respectively.

Nigeria has registered the highest nine goals with three against while Ghana and Zambia have banged in seven goals apiece with one and two against respectively.