The local Teranga Lions of Senegal defeated the Black Stars B of Ghana on penalties to lift 2019 WAFU cup after both teams drew 1-1 after extra time.
Ghana won the competition twice both as hosts, beating Senegal and Nigeria in the 2013 and 2017 finals respectively. Coach Maxwell Konadu and his boys were bent on winning the cup for keeps but luck eluded them as Senegal fought harder to revenge the loss they suffered in the hands of Ghana in 2013 beating the Black Stars B in the 2019 final on Sunday.
The local Teranga Lions started the game with high intensity as Ghana sat back to soak the pressure and catch them on the counter. Ibrahima Drame had his effort saved by Ghana’s Eric Ofori Antwi to deny the hosts an early lead. Despite the threats from the hosts, Ghana came close through Shafiu Mumuni in the 25th minute of the first half but failed to find the net as the Senegalese proved very resolute at the back.
The first half ended barren and the hosts came back strongly after the recess but both teams failed to find the net as the game entered extra time after 90 minutes.
Youssef Badji put Senegal in front at 108th minute into the extra time but the joy won’t last as Joseph Esso restored parity for Ghana less than two minutes after Senegal had taken the lead. Both teams failed to find the net as the game went into penalty shootouts to separate the two.
The story got much bitter for Ghana as Augustine Okrah and Fatawu Mohammed missed the first and second kicks for Ghana before Appiah McCarthy successfully converted the third. Senegal got psyched up after Ghana’s early misses, scoring their first three kicks before Justice Black missed Ghana’s fourth and last kick to hand the trophy to the hosts with a 3-1 victory.
Senegal’s Moussa Ndiaye won the match of the match as Ghana’s Shafiu Mumuni won the golden boot after emerging top scorer of the tournament with four (4) goals.
Photo credit: ESPN
