Ghana penalty curse continues

Ghana’s penalty curse struck again in Point-Noire as Congo advanced to the final qualifying round of the Caf Under-23 Championship.

A 29th minute strike by Sylvere Ganvoula cancelled out Ghana’s 1-0 first-leg advantage over Congo’s Red Devils at the Complex Sportif de Point-Noire on Sunday – pushing the tie’s decider into a penalty shootout.

And Ghana, yet again the usual suspects, suffered their ninth penalty loss in their last 11 attempts.

All but right-back Emmanuel Nti Mensah converted their kicks for Ghana while Congo coach Claude Le Roy's side made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Having been handed the advantage after Christoffer Mafoumbi saved Ghana’s fourth kick, Junior Makiesse stepped up and scored the final kick to hand Congo a 5-4 penalty win.

Ghana’s elimination at the second round of the Caf Under-23 qualifiers makes it the third successive Olympic football tournament for which the country has failed to secure qualification.

Congo will now face Nigeria’s Dream Team in the third and final round of qualifiers to the Caf Under-23 Championship.

The Caf Under-23 Championship which will be hosted by Senegal will have the top three teams from the eight-nation competition secure places at the 2016 Rio Olympics Games football tournament.

Ghana Starting XI:

Richard Ofori – Emmanuel Nti Mensah, Amos Acheampong, Lawrence Lartey, Baba Mensah - Isaac Honney – Moro Ibrahim, Sadiq Alhassan, Enoch Ebo Andoh, Bright Adjei – Abdul Fatawu Safiu