Ghana are bad losers -Zambia Sports journalist

GHANAIAN players disgraced themselves last week when they attacked match officials after failing to stomach a 1-0 defeat to Zambia at the brand new Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Some enraged players and officials claim to have been assaulted by Zambian police officers after the game as they accosted referees. They have threatened not only to report the incident to FIFA but sort out Zambian players in the return match next year.

The players, among them, Jordan Ayew, claim to have been batoned by police. I sat at some vantage point and had a clear view of what happened.

It is important for Ghana players, as professionals, to understand that football has three results – victory, draw and defeat – and that all these must be accepted.

I have a few questions for Ghanaian players: Why did they attack the referees? Did they intend to shake hands with the referees or harm them? Where on earth do police officers beat up football players?

So, what did they expect police officers to do when referees’ lives were in danger? Did they want the officers to fold their arms and watch some blood-thirsty Ghanaian players feast on innocent refs?

As they take things to FIFA, they should strive to tell the world football governing body a modicum of truth, and the truth is that no police officer beat up any Ghanaian player!

The police were restraining the players from attacking the refs and I did see a few objects flying in the direction of the hapless Tunisian whistlemen. These objects came from Ghanaian players, coaches and other officials. It is, therefore, surprising for Ghana to claim that their players were beaten up. If there was any beating, it was the 1-0 beating which they should just accept because they played second fiddle on the day.

Have Ghana forgotten so easily that Zambia are African champions? Are they not the same Ghana, Zambia beat four months in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations? What do they think has changed?

Let them just be good losers.

Free points?

And who is spreading false word that Zambia have been awarded three points following Sudan’s use of an ineligible player? I received quite a number of calls from friends who wanted to confirm the ‘good news’.

According to the callers, some website reported that Zambia had been given three points following a complaint FAZ lodged with FIFA that Sudan had used Saif Ali, who was red-carded during the Africa Cup in February.

The truth of the matter is that no three points have been withdrawn from Sudan and awarded to Zambia. This matter is before the FIFA disciplinary committee, which is yet to make a decision.

The decision will be made this week. Suffice to say though that Zambia have a good case. But for me, I would rather we do not rely on the fate of Sudan. We should qualify on the field of play.

All we need to do is win the remaining games, which is possible. We have the quality to win the games. Yes we do.