U-17 ACN: Starlets lose to Nigeria

Lome, March 18, GNA - Ghana's Black Starlets lost their shine in a crucial last Group game when they lost 0-2 to the Super Eaglets of Nigeria when the two rivals met at the Kegue Stadium in the African U-17 Championship currently underway in Togo.

The Ghanaians for once lacked purposefulness in the entire duration of the game and conceding a goal in each half to set a date with host Togo at the semi final stage on Wednesday.


Both countries have already qualified for the world summit in the Republic of Korea later in the year and the outcome of the game did not change their status.


The Nigerians, by far the better side on the day, fought like wounded lions throughout the duration and deservingly got the opener only five minutes to end the first half through Rafael Ademola. It was a product of fine exchanges involving Ibrahim Mustapha and the "bull", Oseni Gani.


The Starlets who rest some of their regulars like Ransford Osei, Abeiku Quansah and Gwala Pero among others struggled to put their acts together and to handle their physical opponents.

The team lacked stamina and left many wondering what had gone wrong yhis time round.


Just when all seemed to be heading to a close, the Eaglets struck again in the 88th minute when Akinsola Kabiru nailed the Ghanaians to give the Nigerians a sigh of relieve.


Against the run of play, Gani was set clear from the middle and the striker outpaced his Ghanaian marker and sent a cross which goalkeeper Abraham Hoenyadzi failed to grab to profit Kabiru to head home.


LINE-UP - Starlets Abraham Hoenyadzi, Stephen Owesu-Ansah,Abeiku Quansah, Addo Pual, Opare Tawiah, Gwala Pero, Owusu Benjamin, Abdul Aziz, Enoch Adu, Sadick Adams/Ransford Osei, Ishmael Yartey, Nathaniel Asamoah and Eric Opoku.