Red card almost destroyed my record — Vincent Atingah

Accra Hearts of Oak defender, Vincent Atingah Addae, has described the red card he received during Ghana's final match against Nigeria in the just-ended WAFU Cup of Nations as devastating as it destroyed, his record.

Atingah was booked for a foul by Senegalese referee Dauda Gueye when he brought down Nigeria forward Anthony Okpotu in the 18th minute and was sent off in the dying minutes of the game after pulling the shirt of an opponent.

Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, the 21-year-old player said, “I felt very bad about the incident because I have never been sent off since I started playing football".

"This season, I have featured 29 times both in the Ghana Premier League and the MTN FA Cup but I have not received a red card so I was worried because the WAFU Cup is an international tournament".

"I don't think it's a good thing to work so hard in the tournament only to receive a red card at the end. I was devastated because it affected my record," he said.

The Hearts centre-back emerged one of the outstanding players in the Black Stars B squad when they clinched the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations title in Cape Coast last Sunday.

He has been consistent in the Hearts defence this season, providing a solid shield at the back, as well as ranking among the scorers with five goals.