Black Stars secure first leg victory over Ivory Coast in Beach Soccer qualifiers
By Lukman MUMIN, Accra
Ghana’s Black Sharks will travel to Abidjan for the second leg of their Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with a healthy lead from the first leg.
The Black Sharks defeated the Ivorian counterparts 5-3 in a pulsating game at the Keta Emancipation Beach Arena over the weekend.
Alfred Kwame Torsu opened the scoring for Ghana on the 6th-minute mark before Wise Nyamadi added a quick-fire brace to hand Ghana a 3-0 lead.
The Ivorians however fought back and scored before the game went into the first break.
After the break, Ticor Kini scored twice to give Ghana a cruising lead but the Ivorians scored again after converting a 39th-minute penalty.
The opponents then managed to reduce the goal deficit after Hans DjedDjed’s 43rd-minute goal.
“We have to stay focused and disciplined,” said Ghana coach Daniel Neequaye Kotey after the game.
“The job isn’t done yet. We need to replicate our performance next weekend and stay focused as a team.”
The second leg tie which will be played on Saturday, July 27 in Abidjan promises to be a showdown, with both teams vying for a spot in the 2024 Beach Soccer AFCON which will be staged in Egypt.
