ARUSHA, April 8 (Reuters)(DS) - Tanzania 0 Ghana 1 - result. World Cup African Zone first round, first leg qualifier.
Scorers: Emmanuel Kuffour(Hearts)
Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 10,000
Ghana, which has never qualified for the quadrennial international football showpiece, displayed its pedigree by winning 1-0 in Tanzania through a goal from Bayern Munich defender Samuel Kuffour.
Kuffour, who wept uncontrollably before a worldwide television audience when Bayern lost to Manchester United in the 1999 European Champions League final, scored after 21 minutes in the northern town of Arusha.
Ghana battled to overcome Tanzania in the previous World Cup qualifiers and the result was a huge relief for Italian coach Guiseppe Dossena, who is under pressure following a dismal showing at the 2000 African Nations Cup.
Stars win in Arusha- Graphic Report
From Sam Okaitey, ArushaTHE senior national team, the Black Stars produced a bit of the old Ghanaian gel last Saturday, to beat Tanzania 1-0 in their World Cup qualifying first leg match played in Arusha.
Hearts of Oak?s Emmanuel Kuffour, probably the most delightful player of the afternoon also snatched the Stars? lone goal, after a stunning solo effort that left stranded, two Tanzanian defenders and goalkeeper Peter Mayika. Blending his aggression with skill, Kuffour was all action not only stopping the Tanzanian attack in midfield but mustered the stamina and courage to push pressure further down.
In his most dazzling moment in the 21st minute of the game, Kuffour dribbled his way through two Tanzanian defenders, passed to Felix Aboagye and then took a one-time pass from his Dubai-based colleague to slice pass the stranded Tanzanian goalie.
The goal silenced the large home crowd and marked a crucial moment of a game in which the Stars, strangely, looked a vastly transformed side from the scrappy side that played in last January?s Cup of Nations. This time, with Jacob Nettey playing a superb stopper in partnership with Sam Johnson, Charles Allotey making a sensational debut and Dugbartey and George Blay standing firm in defence, C. K. Akonnor felt relieved to criss-cross on either side of attack to express his natural flair.
The roar at the 15,000 capacity AFC (Arusha Football Club) Stadium hit a deafening crescendo in the 10th minute when Tanzania?s slippery winger Edibily Lunyanila laid on for striker Godfred Kikumbizi to drive a powerful shot for which Kingson?s alertness again prevented from entering the net.
The Stars reversed the attack in the 15th minute, but Kwame Ayew?s menace was roughly halted just at the edge of the Tanzanian box for a freekick. During the proud moment of the Stars, only Augustine Ahinful remained anonimous and two shows of poor marksmanship by Ayew denied them an early lead till Kuffour struck his first Black Stars goal. The Stars were even more fluent in the second half when Edmund Copson replaced Edusei and Allotey took over from Ahinful. But their play was severely undermined earlier in the 69th minute when Ayew was shown the red card for abusive language on a Tanzanian defenders.
That numerical advantage urged on the Taifa Stars, under instructions from German coach Bukhard Pape for more offensive play. But goalkeeper Kingson, now spotting a cap, Robert Mensah-style, frustrated all their efforts, taking the roaring crowd through some breath taking dives and saves.
Kingson, Blay, Dugbatey/Gyan, Nettey, Johnson, Emmanuel Kuffour, Baidoo/Copson, Aboagye, Ahinful/Allotey, Ayew, Akonnor.
ARUSHA, April 8 (Reuters)(DS) - Tanzania 0 Ghana 1 - result. World Cup African Zone first round, first leg qualifier.
Scorers: Emmanuel Kuffour(Hearts)
Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 10,000
Ghana, which has never qualified for the quadrennial international football showpiece, displayed its pedigree by winning 1-0 in Tanzania through a goal from Bayern Munich defender Samuel Kuffour.
Kuffour, who wept uncontrollably before a worldwide television audience when Bayern lost to Manchester United in the 1999 European Champions League final, scored after 21 minutes in the northern town of Arusha.
Ghana battled to overcome Tanzania in the previous World Cup qualifiers and the result was a huge relief for Italian coach Guiseppe Dossena, who is under pressure following a dismal showing at the 2000 African Nations Cup.
Stars win in Arusha- Graphic Report
From Sam Okaitey, ArushaTHE senior national team, the Black Stars produced a bit of the old Ghanaian gel last Saturday, to beat Tanzania 1-0 in their World Cup qualifying first leg match played in Arusha.
Hearts of Oak?s Emmanuel Kuffour, probably the most delightful player of the afternoon also snatched the Stars? lone goal, after a stunning solo effort that left stranded, two Tanzanian defenders and goalkeeper Peter Mayika. Blending his aggression with skill, Kuffour was all action not only stopping the Tanzanian attack in midfield but mustered the stamina and courage to push pressure further down.
In his most dazzling moment in the 21st minute of the game, Kuffour dribbled his way through two Tanzanian defenders, passed to Felix Aboagye and then took a one-time pass from his Dubai-based colleague to slice pass the stranded Tanzanian goalie.
The goal silenced the large home crowd and marked a crucial moment of a game in which the Stars, strangely, looked a vastly transformed side from the scrappy side that played in last January?s Cup of Nations. This time, with Jacob Nettey playing a superb stopper in partnership with Sam Johnson, Charles Allotey making a sensational debut and Dugbartey and George Blay standing firm in defence, C. K. Akonnor felt relieved to criss-cross on either side of attack to express his natural flair.
The roar at the 15,000 capacity AFC (Arusha Football Club) Stadium hit a deafening crescendo in the 10th minute when Tanzania?s slippery winger Edibily Lunyanila laid on for striker Godfred Kikumbizi to drive a powerful shot for which Kingson?s alertness again prevented from entering the net.
The Stars reversed the attack in the 15th minute, but Kwame Ayew?s menace was roughly halted just at the edge of the Tanzanian box for a freekick. During the proud moment of the Stars, only Augustine Ahinful remained anonimous and two shows of poor marksmanship by Ayew denied them an early lead till Kuffour struck his first Black Stars goal. The Stars were even more fluent in the second half when Edmund Copson replaced Edusei and Allotey took over from Ahinful. But their play was severely undermined earlier in the 69th minute when Ayew was shown the red card for abusive language on a Tanzanian defenders.
That numerical advantage urged on the Taifa Stars, under instructions from German coach Bukhard Pape for more offensive play. But goalkeeper Kingson, now spotting a cap, Robert Mensah-style, frustrated all their efforts, taking the roaring crowd through some breath taking dives and saves.
Kingson, Blay, Dugbatey/Gyan, Nettey, Johnson, Emmanuel Kuffour, Baidoo/Copson, Aboagye, Ahinful/Allotey, Ayew, Akonnor.
