Africans Flop As Europe Wins Meridian Cup

Europeans are the champions of the Meridian Cup tournament, following a third day of nightmare for the African sides in Bari. Three African sides were beaten, including favourites Ghana, while Mali came from behind to draw with Portugal.

Italy defeated Ghana 1-0 to maintain their 100 percent record leading in the overall standings in the tournament.

African hopes for a revival rested on Ghana, but the Black Starlets lost to a 32nd minute goal by Italy's Orlando Fanasca.

Mali came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with favourites Portugal to clinch their first point and goals at the event.

After two draws, the Czech Republic defeated Cameroon 3-1 with a hat-trick by AC Sparta Prague's Tomas Jun.

A 10-man Nigerian side also lost 1-0 to Spain with Olewasugun Abiodun's goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time for offsides.

Playing in front of the president of the Spanish national association, Angel Mar?a Villar, and the head coach of the senior national team, Jos? Antonio Camacho, striker, Jorge Pina justified his side's accomplished performance after 22 minutes with a left-footed free-kick from the right flank while Recoba connected with a volley that flew into the roof of the Nigerian net.

Nigerian, Ibrahim was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second-half.

Ghana, who started their game against Italy unbeaten, began brightly and gave several glimpses of their class in the opening stages but then the home side once again tipped the balance in their favour thanks to a suffocating blanket of defenders who provided a solid basis for Italy to prepare their attacks.

After 20 minutes, a free-kick taken by Nicola Beati on the right was headed by Niccol? Galli against the bar. Five minutes later, a free-kick on the left taken by the same player was headed into the net by Felice Piccolo but the goal was disallowed as the referee judged the Italian defender to have fouled an opponent.

The hosts were finally rewarded for their pressure when another set piece produced the only goal of the game as Fanasca rose high to head home a corner by Fabio Quagliarella.

Mali conceded two goals in the opening five minutes, but Souleymane Dembele reduced the scores in the 35th minute and Sidi Keita levelled it after breaking into the Portuguese box.

Mali lost their opening match 5-0 to Spain and 3-0 to Italy. Coach Sekou Diallo said the result was encouraging for his side.

"After conceding two goals in five minutes due to lack of concentration, our comeback is a positive result," Diallo said after the match.

Portugal scored after only three minutes when skipper Hugo Viana's cross was headed home by midfield pivot Ra?l Meireles.

Pedro Ribeiro also headed in the second goal from a quickly played short corner kick.

Czech hat-trick hero, Jun missed a penalty after Cameroon's Stephane Bikey was sent off for bringing down striker Filip Trojan. Jun's shot hit the post after the referee awarded the spot kick for an handball.

Cameroon had equalised through Patrick Kamtchoum, who was totally unmarked in the Czech box.

After the third day, the African sides have only five points and can no longer catch up with the Europeans, who have 26 points.

On Friday, Ghana will play Spain in a repeat of the 1999 final of the Meridian Cup in Johannesburg.

Mali will take on the Czech Republic and Cameroon will entertain Portugal. Overall leaders, Italy could run away with the title as hosts when they play Nigeria.

The African teams are still in search of their first win.