Ghana U17 Fightback To Draw With Congo But Remain Bottom In Group B

Posted On Wednesday, 17th April 2013

The Black Starlets drew 1-1 with Congo in Marrakech on Wednesday at the CAF U17 tournament.

The Black Starlets drew 1-1 with Congo in Marrakech on Wednesday at the CAF U17 tournament.

Ghana rallied to draw 1-1 with Congo to hold on to slim hopes of qualifying to the semi-final at the ongoing African Junior Championship.

The Black Starlets fell behind after just three minutes when goalkeeper Mohammed Ali spilled Ngatsongo Obassi’s innocuous free-kick for striker Kader Bidimbou to tap in from close range.

Ali got the nod to start between the sticks due to the suspension of first goal goalkeeper Lawrence Ati who was red carded in Ghana’s opener against Nigeria last Sunday but he did little to convince the bench.

Congo came close doubling the lead but Obassi’s shot missed the target by inches.

Paa Kwesi Fabin’s side kept their heads afloat and mounted a search for the equalizer.

After 37 minutes, the hard work paid when when the two-time African champions drew level through Yaw Yeboah.

Captain Thomas Agyepong made an electric run on the left before sending in a cross which found Yeboah inside the box.

The Right To Dream player stretched to connect into the net for his second goal of the tournament.

Ghana went into the break brimming with confidence of scoring more in the second half but that was not to be.

The rains came down and that affected the quality of the pitch.

The point shared meant Ghana are still at the foot of the table with one point from two matches.

They must now beat leaders Ivory Coast in the final Group match on Saturday and hope Nigeria dispatch Congo to qualify to the semi-final and also book a slot to play at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in UAE.

Ghana’s starting XI: Mohammed Ali , Isaac Twum, Patrick Kojo Asmah, Kingsley Fobi, Nicholas Opoku, Gideon Waja, Paul Asare De-Vries, Caleb Gomina, Emmanuel Oti Essigba, Yaw Yeboah, Thomas Agyepong