Stars reach CHAN final

Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire, March 5, GNA - Ghana's Black Stars claimed a final berth of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they beat Senegal 7-6 on penalties in their semi-final clash at the Stade de la Paix, Boauke on Wednesday.

The Stars' goalie goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy was the hero for the Ghanaian side when he saved Senegalese defender Djilabodji Papy's kick before Kwadwo Poku's kick ensured victory in the marathon shoot-out. The Hearts of Oak goalie had earlier converted his kick, the final of the first phase to take the game into the next round of penalty shoot out.

For once, a Ghanaian side remained very confident during penalty kicks and the result paid off for them amidst sessions of prayers by some of the players amid the regular cheers from the packed crowd at the Stadium of Peace. The all-West African affair had to be decided on penalties after both teams were tied one all after 120 minutes of action, the first of the competition designed exclusively for local-based players. The Black Stars, who for the second time had to play without Head Coach, Milovan Rajevac on the technical bench, started brightly with Charles Asampong Taylor leading several raids into the Senegalese goal area.

Taylor, who is gradually rediscovering his old form was by far the brightest spot on the Ghanaian side and was on the second and 28th minutes, denied the opener by the Senegalese goalie Ba Momadou from his usual speciality free-kicks. Liberty Professionals striker Yaw Antwi justified his position in the first team ahead of Kotoko's forward, Kwadwo Poku by registering the opener on the half-hour mark after finishing off Rahim Ayew's solo move upfront.

The lead was however cut short four minutes later, when Sow Alpha Oumar slammed home after he was left unmarked in the Stars goal area from Ndiour Babacar's free-kick. The Stars resumed the second half the more purposeful side with Taylor, Owusu Ansah and Samuel Inkoom missing targets narrowly before the quarter-hour mark. But the tempo of the game soon died with McCarthy making the best of Moussa Dembele's goal-bound kick in the closing stages by flicking-out the ball with the tip of his finger to the admiration of the crowd.

During the shoot-out, Daniel Yeboah, Samuel Ayew Yeboah, Habib Mohammed, Ofosu Appiah, McCarthy, Osei Bonsu and Poku scored for Stars whilst Malick Fall, Diamanka Maly, Ndiour Babacar, Diallo Mame Chieck, Diouf Mor and Ndiaye Sidy converted for the Teranga Lions.

In the other semi-final clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in the Ivorian economic capital, DR Congo beat Zambia 2-1 to set-up a final clash with the Black Stars. The Congolese took a two-goal lead in the first half through Lofo Bongeli and Kaluyituka Dioko before Given Singuluma reduced the deficit for Zambia in the closing stages. The two sides qualified from Group B, with the Stars claiming a surprising 3-0 win in their last meet in Bouake.

Line-up Ghana - Philemon McCarthy, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Ofosu Appiah, Godwin Osei Bonsu, Daniel Yeboah, Jordan Opoku, Ibrahim Ayew/Habib Mohamed, Edmund Owusu Ansah/Kwadwo Poku, Charles Asampong Taylor/Samuel Ayew Yeboah, Yaw Antwi.

Senegal - Ba Mamadou, Ndiaye Sidy, Diouf Mor, Djilabodji Papy, Traore Mamadou/ Dembele Moussa, Badiane Vito, Ndiour Babacar, Ndao El Hadji Sara, Diallo Karamba, Sow Alpha Oumar/ Diamanka Pape Maly, Diallo Mame Chiekh