FIFA U-17 World Cup: Starlets coach blames ref for loss
Black Starlets coach Paa Kwesi Fabin has shifted the blame of his side's defeat to the doorstep of Algerian referee, Abid Charef Meldi, for certain regretable decisions he took during their 1-2 lost to Mali in the quarter final game played at Indira Ghandi Stadium last Saturday.
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Besides the referee, the Ghanaian coach believes the wet pitch may have contributed significantly to the loss because it didn’t help his boys during the game.
"Officiating is something I dont normally talk about but this one, I will like to complain because we scored a perfect equaliser.... the ball entered the net long before the referee came out to say it was a foul" the coach vented his frustration during a post match interview last Saturday.
Hadji Drame opened the scoring for Mali on the 15th minute following a poor clearance by Ghanaian Abdul Yusif on the slippery turf which allowed Drame to dribble into the right corner of the six yard box before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad.
The soggy pitch made passing difficult for the Ghanaians and the phisique of the Malians left the Starlets chasing their shadows for most part of the first half with skipper Mohammed Camara and Salam Jiddou tormenting Ghana's backline.
Ghana returned from recess much stronger when more men were thrown in attack and it didn’t take long when unmarked Sulley Ibrahim shot from close range into the net but was disallowed by the referee to the chagrin of most of the 3,705 fans in the stands including coach Fabin.
"I dont understand it but then i think if that goal had stood it would have changed the course of the game"a disappointed coach Fabin insisted.
The Black Starlets did not give up and fought for the equaliser but one moment of indecision cost them as goalkeeper Danlad was punished for the second time from a long range effort by Mali winger, Djemoussa Traore in the 61st minute when he flighted the ball from a tight angle into the top right corner of the net after he had spotted the Ghanaian keeper off his mark.
Kudus Emmanuel reduced the deficit for ths Ghanaians in the 70th minute through a penalty after Mali centre-back Fode Konate had tripped substitute Sadiq Ibrahim in the box. Ghana tilted the pressure on the oponents but the wet pitch made ball control much difficult for them to find the much needed equaliser.
