Ghana, Liberia book final places in Amputee tourney

Ghana and Liberia booked their places at the final of the 2011 Cup of Africa Nations for Amputee Football (CANAF) with victories in the semi final matches on Friday.

Ghana beat Angola 2-0 whilst defending champions, Liberia accounted for Sierra Leone 4-3 on penalties both at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana’s Black Challenge, winners in the maiden edition in 2007 will face Liberia in the final on Saturday at the same venue to be preceded by the third-place match between Sierra Leone and Angola.

For Ghana, they faced their biggest test at the tournament from the output of the  Angolans, who were a delight to watch but managed to survive with goals from captain Richard Opentil and Joseph Kwasi Amoh in each half.

The Angolans made clear their intent from kick-off as they pinned the Ghanaians to their own half. Midfield duo of Oliviera Ambriz and Sabino Joaquin raided the Black Challenge’s defence, but failed to break the deadlock as the Ghanaians resolutely defended their hold on the game.

Despite the dominance of the Angolans, it was the Ghanaians who shot into the lead on 21 minutes through Opentil from the spot. This was after an Angolan player had committed a foul from an ensuing indirect free-kick in his box to give the opener to the Black Challenge.

The Angolans never relented in the their search for a goal in the second half but the Ghanaian defensive pair of Opentil and Kofi Asare Kelvin remained resolute and thwarted all their efforts.

On the half-hour mark, Joaquin was unlucky as his goal-bound effort flew across the face of the Ghanaian goal posts during one of their raids.

A minute to full time, Amoh scored to seal victory for the Ghanaians after capitalizing on a blunder by the Angolan goalkeeper Candido Ngunza, who failed to make a firm grab of Richard Ekwam’s harmless shot.

Ghana squad – John Mensah Badu, Kofi Asare Kelvin, Cephas Ayibadek Abban, Collins Gyamfi/Richard Ekwam, Ernest Ayisi, Francis Darkwah/Joseph Amoh, Richard Opentil.

Angola – Candido Ngunza, Oliviera Ambriz/Heno Guilherme, Veressino Ambriz, Laurindo Lukamba, Sabino Joaquin, Neves Sonhy/Victorino Uchila, Jose Victorino

Source: GNA