…beat Côte d’Ivoire 5:2 away to qualify
The Ghana National Beach Soccer Team, Black Sharks, has booked a spot at the 2024 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be held in Egypt.
In a dazzling display of skill and determination, the Black Sharks clinched their qualification with a resounding 5-2 victory over Ivory Coast in the second leg of their play-off in their backyard, cementing a 10-5 aggregate win.
Black Sharks triumphed with a 5-3 win over the Sea Elephants in the first leg played in Ghana and were expecting, at worse, a single goal loss to qualify.
The atmosphere was electric at the Stade de Agora in Abidjan as the two West African giants clashed in the decisive match. The Black Sharks produced a stunning come-back to turn things in their favour after the Sea Elephants took an early two-goal lead.
The Sea Elephants, buoyed by their home crowd, started brightly but the Ghanaian side remained resolute in securing that one spot of contention and fought back impressively.
Minutes into the second period of the match, the Black Sharks substitute goalkeeper, Robert Nyadedzor, opened the score for Ghana with a long-range effort. His shot beat the Ivorian goalkeeper who was caught rooted to the spot. Wise Nyamadi grabbed the equaliser shortly after to keep the team’s spirit high.
Skipper Richard Martei Osai put Ghana ahead with a cheeky goal. The Sea Elephants came all out and created some great changes after Ghana’s third goal, but failed to put the ball at the back of the net.
In the final period, Ghana extended the lead with a powerful strike from Precious Torgbor before Jude Asante Aklie slotted in Ghana’s 5th goal to seal the victory.
The aggregate score of 10-5 is a testament to Ghana’s offensive prowess and defensive solidity throughout the two-legged play-off.
This victory not only secures the team’s place in the 2024 AFCON, but also marks a significant achievement for the country’s beach soccer team, a sport that has been steadily gaining prominence in the country.
Head Coach of Black Sharks, Daniel Neequaye Kotey, expressed his elation in a post-match interview and said: “I am incredibly proud of the team’s performance. We came into this match with a clear strategy, and the players executed it flawlessly. Qualifying for the AFCON is a huge milestone for us, and we look forward to representing Ghana with pride in Egypt”.
With Ghana’s impressive qualification performance, the stage is set for a thrilling tournament where the team will seek to make a significant impact and further establish itself as a powerhouse in African beach soccer.
