Ghana’s Black Meteors have missed out on Tokyo 2020 Olympics games after losing to South Africa on Friday.
The Black Meteors suffered a huge setback in their third place play-off game against the Young Bafana Bafana as they lost 6-5 on penalties after a two all draw.
The South Africans drew first blood inside 15 minutes with Habib Mohammed’s own goal.
Ghana equalized in the 50th minute through Evans Mensah’s brilliant long-range shot to level matters.
South Africa restored their one-goal lead inside 62nd minute when substitute Kamohelo Mahlatsi scored just a few minutes after his introduction to make it 2-1.
The Ghanaians kept fighting and were rewarded with a goal five minutes from full time with a poacher’s goal from striker Samuel Obeng to make it 2-2 after dancing feet of Evans Mensah dribbled past two South Africans to set him up for the equalizer.
The game finished 2-2.
Ghana lost on penalties for the second consecutive game in the tournament despite having an early advantage in the shootouts when South African captain missed his spot-kick.
Kingsley Fobi missed his kick making it four out of five penalties converted by both teams.
Edward Sarpong could have sent Ghana partying after erroneous goalkeeper Kwame Baah managed to save the sixth kick but only for the brilliant left-back to skyrocket his effort.
Substitute Emmanuel Cudjoe’s spot-kick was saved by the South African goalkeeper to send his country through to next year’s Olympics in Japan to leave Ghana devastated after another failure from the 12-yards after losing to West African neighbours Ivory Coast a few days ago via spot-kicks.
Ghana has failed to qualify for the Olympics games since 2004 and would have to wait for another four years to try again.
Source: Delrand Nii Ansah Mensah Whyte, Daily Mail GH
