Black Meteors qualify to next stage

Accra, Jan 13, GNA - Ghana's Olympic team, the Black Meteors on Saturday defeated their Ivorian counterparts 4-3 on penalties in Abidjan on to qualify for the next stage of the All Africa Games qualifier.

Defender Jerry Akaminko converted the last kick for the Meteors after the Ivorians had recorded a 2-0 score line during the normal time which ensured the Ghanaians progress on a 6-5 aggregate.


The Ivorians scored two goals in the second half to cancel out the two-goal deficit suffered at the hands of the Ghanaians from the first leg thus forcing the game to be decided via the penalty shoot out.


Skipper Michael Helegbe, Iddrisu Nafiu, Michael Akuffo and Akaminko scored their kicks as against the three by their hosts, with Bawa Mumuni also missing his kick while the Ivorian keeper also missed his kick to give the Ghanaians the edge in the qualifier.

The Black Meteors will face Nigeria in the final round with the first leg scheduled to come off in Sunyani between 23-25 February with the second leg fixed for 9-11 March, 2007 in Lagos.


The winner of the two-legged tie automatically qualifiers for the All Africa Games to be hosted by Algeria in June/July this year.