Black Satellites’ Micheal Ephson scored a late goal to ensure Ghana secured a slot in the ongoing African Games men’s football, securing their slot alongside the Black princesses who booked their slot in the women’s football.
Substitute Ephson was in the right place at the right time to only tap in after the Senegal goalkeeper had parried a cross by Jerry Afriyie. The goal also came in at a time when many fans had gone frustrated over the numerous chances the Black Satellites had failed to convert.
Speaking to the media, the head coach of Black Satellites Desmond Offei said “ As expected it was a very tough game against a very good team. A team that had been working really hard to compete on the highest level, So we had a lot of respect for them.
“We had to fight for it and it took us a while but from beginning to end, we dominated the game. We were never in trouble. They chose the long ball which surprised us because we thought they were going to play. They are a good ball-playing team but that was not the case this evening. In my opinion, we did not create more chances in the first half but we dug deep, and eventually, we got rewarded with Michael’s goal”
Answering a question on whether his strikers were nothing to write home about, Desmond Offei said “My boys weren’t wasteful, we had one clear chance and we finished it, I can’t remember any part of the game where we squandered any chances. We are in the middle of Ramadan and I want to protect my boys as much as I can. Misbau is a very good player same as Issah and Sulemana, and we felt their energy was dropping and I think the timing of the substitution was perfect timing, He added.
Ghana Black Satellites will now face Uganda who earlier came from two goals down to beat Congo in the final at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, while Black Princesses also take on their counterpart Falconets of Nigeria tomorrow at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com |Osenkafo Addo