France wallop Ghana 3:1

The Black Satellites of Ghana succumbed to an embarrassing 3:1 defeat at the hands of French junior side, France’s Les Bleuets in their opening Group A FIFA U-20 World Cup game in Istanbul, Turkey. The defeat wiped away the Satellite’s record of never losing a game at the group stage of the junior World Cup.

They had played the first half without urgency upfront, except in defence where they showed depth and managed to soak sustained pressure by the French.

The Ghanaian defence of goalkeeper Eric Antwi, Richmond Nketiah, Ebenezer Ofori, Joseph Attamah and Lawrence Lartey which had played rather confidently in first half dealing with the flurry of chances that came the way of the French, including a siege between the 18th and 33rd minutes, returned without steam.

While the French appeared to have renewed their energies on resumption and kept probing for the goals, the Satellites hardly made any headway, allowing unmarked Geoffrey Kondogbia (65th minute) with a free header from a throw-in, followed three minutes later by a Yaya Sanogo’s whipped shot through Antwi’s legs and the final one by Jean Christophe Bahebeck (79th minute).

Ghana’s consolation came five minutes from the end through Yiadom Boakye, while marksman Ebenezer Assifuah who had a rather quiet game, spilled a glorious chance a minute later to inspire a late come-back. In the end, it was the plaintive voice of coach Sellas Tetteh that remained the enduring point of the Ghanaian game, as he kept howling instructions and disappointments from the sidelines.

Ghana is boxed in Group A with France, USA and Spain.

Story: Isaac Yeboah/Graphic.com.gh
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