{"id":1209851,"date":"2022-09-23T16:19:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T16:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/09\/23\/africas-brazil-yet-to-beat-samba-boys-in-3-meetings\/"},"modified":"2022-09-23T16:19:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T16:19:18","slug":"africas-brazil-yet-to-beat-samba-boys-in-3-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/09\/23\/africas-brazil-yet-to-beat-samba-boys-in-3-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa’s Brazil yet to beat Samba boys in 3 meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The \u2018African Brazil\u2019 is a term many crazy football fans in Ghana are proud to associate with when referring to the senior national team \u2013 Black Stars. <\/p>\n

Its roots stem from a bye-gone era when Ghana had proper football associations with Brazil, and were as dominant on the continent as the South American football nation were back home.<\/p>\n

The many varied layers of links between Ghana and Brazil provide the basis for the egotistical name \u2018Africa Brazil\u2019. A young Carlos Alberto Parreira from Brazil landed his first job as a football coach in Ghana \u2013 shortly after moving out, he gained promotion and became the assistant coach of Samba Boys prior to the 1970 World Cup. The belief that Ghana football at the early stage was shaped by Brazil is supported by evidence of Parreira\u2019s work whilst here.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s a shared belief that many of the slaves exported across the Atlantic Ocean went to Brazil until the slave trade was abolished. This according to the school of thought, explains the enormous Ghanaian influence on Brazilian culture, music, dance and rituals.<\/p>\n

Edson Arantes do Nascimento [Original Pele] visited Ghana in 1969 and proclaimed then \u201cthat one day an African country would win the World Cup\u201d. On the 6th February 1969, Accra Hearts of Oak were held to a 2-2 drawn game by a Pele-led Santos FC of Brazil in an international friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium. The national attachment to football made in Brazil grew stronger with then President Dr Kwame Nkrumah sending a number of coaches to train in Brazil before taking charge of national teams that were hugely successful on the continent.<\/p>\n

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Abedi Ayew Pele<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aside many young footballers in Ghana nicknaming themselves Pele, arguably the greatest Footballer to be produced by the country is also named Abedi Ayew Pele. The UEFA Champions League winner and three-time African Footballer of the Year sadly did not play at the World Cup but was alive to see Ghana on the big stage and in the first official meeting of Africa\u2019s Brazil and Brazil.<\/p>\n

2006 World Cup \u2013 Dortmund, Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ghana had stunned Czech Republic, who were at the time ranked No. 2 in the World by FIFA, and USA to make the round of 16 at the Mundial hosted by Germany. The expectations were high after the performances of the team and their ability to have bounced back from an opening defeat to eventual champions, Italy.<\/p>\n

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Twice in five minutes in Dortmund, the Black Stars got caught out at the back. Ghana was initially saved by a flag incorrectly ruling Ronaldo offside, but luck run out the second time when Kaka fed in Ronaldo, who went past goalkeeper Kingson and slotted in.<\/p>\n

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Ronaldo goes past Kingson<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just before the break, the Black Stars were punished again when Brazil launched a quick counter-attack \u2013 Cafu crossed for a seemingly offside Adriano to bundle home. Head coach Ratomir Dujkovic was sent to the stands for the second half after remonstrating with the referee. Gyan was handed his marching orders after he was punished for diving.<\/p>\n

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There was a final attempt by Brazil \u2013 substitute Ricardinho floated a ball over the top and Ze Roberto flicked it past Kingson, ran round him and rolled into an empty net. Ghana lost by three goals to nil and excited the competition.<\/p>\n

2007 Friendly \u2013 Stockholm, Sweden<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh from the World Cup and with a new man in charge, the Black Stars were billed to face the Samba boys in Sweden. French Boss Claude Le Roy had replaced Ratomir Djokovic as Ghana\u2019s head coach and had the immediate task of preparing the senior national team for AFCON 2008 [which was hosted in Ghana].<\/p>\n

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The only goal of the game was scored by Vagna Love in the 17th minute when he capitalized on poor decision-making by the Ghanaian defence to slot in the ball. In the second half, free kicks from both Laryea Kingston and Sulley Muntari were tipped onto the bar by the Brazilian stopper. The Stars fought back to cancel the lead but failed on some occasions to find the net and went into the dying minutes of the game with a numerical disadvantage when midfielder Haminu Draman was shown a red card.<\/p>\n

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The defeat of the Stars is the first by the team after they last conceded against the Brazilian side at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Claude le Roy felt Ghana deserved a draw at least \u201cI think we deserved to equalize \u2013 we had the chances. I don\u2019t like losing and it\u2019s the first defeat in seven matches since I took over the national team, but overall I\u2019m pleased with our game,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

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2011 Friendly \u2013 Craven Cottage, England<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of the attention prior to kick-off was focused on the returning Ronaldinho, with the former World Player of the Year making his first appearance for his country in 10 months. The 31-year-old had been in impressive form for Flamengo since returning to his homeland and was drafted back into the fold by coach Mano Menezes. For Ghana, Goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey who had only made his debut for the national team against Swaziland was up for perhaps his biggest night of football.<\/p>\n

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In just 13minutes, the Black Stars were down to 10 men after Daniel Opare was given the marching orders for a second bookable offence. In fact, English referee, Mike Dean handed out eight cards in what was a feisty encounter. Brazil found the breakthrough just before halftime with a defence-splitting ball from Fernandinho allowing Leandro Damiao to find the bottom corner.<\/p>\n

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Ronaldinho offered glimpses of brilliance and came close to scoring with an outstanding free-kick just before full-time but Adam Kwarasey was at his best to tip Gaucho\u2019s excellent free-kick around his left-hand post. Brazilians had to settle for the one-goal victory thanks to the heroics of goalie Kwarasey.<\/p>\n

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Ghana\u2019s star in\u00a0Craven Cottage<\/strong><\/p>\n

11 years down the line, Adam Kwarsey told me about his experience against Brazil that night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Brazil game came a couple of days after and I think we were going to keep one half each and Richard got a minor injury during the warm-up so they told me that I was going to keep the whole game. I don\u2019t really remember what went through my mind \u2013 it\u2019s just another game, just go and play. I felt like we didn\u2019t have that much to lose, it\u2019s a friendly game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI will say we did our job but 30 mins after we got the red card I got a little bit scared \u2013 like \u2018this is going to be a long night\u2019 but I think we did well as a team and also individually. It was just a good experience and it\u2019s nice to tell my son I\u2019ve played for the Black Stars for some years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The now FC Oslo sporting director also added that he felt nothing special from that friendly even though Ghanaians were quick to heap praise on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a good game but of course, people always talk about that game but it\u2019s just a game and of course, a nice experience but you\u2019re done with it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

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So in the meetings of the \u2018Brazils\u2019 \u2013 Africa\u2019s Brazil is yet to record a goal and have endured a red in each of the three meetings. Ghana face Brazil for the fourth time in France on September 23, 2022.<\/p>\n

Will this be an opportunity for the Brazil of Africa to finally show up?<\/p>\n

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