Ghana emerged winners of the “2013 African Nations Cup, UK” after beating Sierra Leone 1-0 in the grand finale last Sunday at the Upton Park, West Ham in London.
Defender Jones Donkor was Ghana’s goal hero, scoring after 85th minute when he jumped above everybody to head home from a corner kick to send sent Ghanaian fans into ecstasy.
The annual tournament which started in 2009 was designed for Africans in the diaspora within United Kingdom attracted all nationals at the Upton Park with keen competition from each country.
Ghana’s coach Princeton Owusu –Ansah (former Black Stars defender) praised his team for their high sense of character throughout the tournament.
He said “Indeed I am delighted that the boys showed much character and commitment, pushing hard to achieve this enviable success “.
Sierra Leone dominated the midfield for most part of the game with inter-positional passes but could not translate the dominance into any goal.
It was Ghana’s Francis Williams who came close on a number of occasions but each time he missed the target narrowly.
Ghana made three changes in the second half, introducing forwards Fred Asante, Vini Acheampong and Richard Ofosu but constantly failed to beat goalkeeper Morgan Kojo in goal for Sierra Leone.
The goal keeper pulled off a number of great saves that kept the score line barren.
But Ghana continued to search for a goal and it came as no surprise when Jones Donkor snatched the winner in the dying minutes of the game.
Gentle-looking Bright Debrah of Ghana was adjudged the man of the match. Ghana’s performance in the tournament was described by the organizers as remarkable, having gained maximum points in the group stage before eliminating rivals Camreroon and Nigeria in the quarter finals and semi finals respectively.
