• About Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Citi Sports Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON
No Result
View All Result
Citi Sports Online
No Result
View All Result

Ghanaian teams and penalty shootouts: A match made in hell

Edwin Kwakofi by Edwin Kwakofi
November 22, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Whatsapp

Hitting a ball past a goalkeeper from 12 yards…how hard could that be?

Extremely hard, if the fortunes of the Black Stars, Black Meteors and other Ghanaian sides are an indicator.

The Meteors’ losses to Ivory Coast in the semi-final of the U-23 AFCON and against South Africa in the third-place playoff on penalties are definitely not as high-profile as losses suffered by the senior national side.

However, they ended yet another heartbreaking trophyless campaign by yet another Ghanaian side at yet another major competition and crushed the country’s Olympic hopes.

Three of five players – Emmanuel Cudjoe, Evans Mensah and Kwabena Owusu –  missed in Tuesday’s shootout for the Black Meteors against Ivory Coast.

🇯🇵⬅️🇨🇮 H I S T O R Y 🇨🇮➡️🇯🇵#TotalAFCONU23 @FIFCI_tweet pic.twitter.com/v243GIKmMK

— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 19, 2019

The Ivorians, on the other hand, scored three of their four kicks.

Three more players, Kingsley Fobi, Edward Sarpong and Emmanuel Cudjoe missed against South Africa.

This was the third time in just over a month that a Ghanaian side had lost on spot-kicks.

In October, the Black Stars B side lost to Senegal in the final of the WAFU tournament.

Of the four Ghana players to attempt penalties in the shootout, only one was successful. This was hugely disappointing considering five of six penalty takers scored in the previous round against Burkina Faso.

Those penalty losses were just two more in an overly-long list for Ghana’s teams at major tournaments.

Tuesday’s loss comes only five months after the senior Black Stars team were dumped out of the African Cup of Nations by Tunisia on penalties.

The Ghanaians actually scored four of their five strikes, with only Caleb Ekuban failing to find the net.

Back in 2015, the Black Stars suffered another major AFCON loss on penalties in a marathon shootout with the Ivory Coast in the final.

Despite seeing the Ivorians missing their first two penalties, misses by Afriyie Acquah, Frank Acheampong and goalkeeper Razak Brimah saw the Black Stars miss out on their fifth AFCON title by a score of 9-8.

Losing AFCON penalty shootouts is not a 21st-century occurrence for the Black Stars.

In 1992, the Black Stars looked favourites to end their 10-year wait for an AFCON title when the final against coincidentally Ivory Coast went to a shootout.

The Stars were successful 10 times from 12 yards but had to settle for silver as the Ivorians netted 11 times from the spot.

Possibly the Stars’ most infamous penalty misfortune came in 2010 at the World Cup in South Africa.

The Ghanaian team had become the favoured underdogs having beaten the USA in the previous round.

A chance to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi beckoned, with only Uruguay standing in the way.

After a tense match was level at 1-1 in extra-time, Luis Suarez’s handball gave Ghana a massive chance to win the game with the last kick of the game.

Asamoah Gyan who had been perfect from the spot throughout the tournament stepped up and smacked the bar with his effort, sending the game into penalties.

Gyan stepped up and converted in the shootout but misses from John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah saw the Black Stars painfully knocked out.

Ghana’s youth teams have had their share of heartbreaks as well.

The Black Satellites’ U-20 campaign in 1999 seemed like a potentially successful one.

It all ended in tears, however, with Spain knocking Ghana out in the quarters on penalties.

The penalty curse hasn’t been limited to the national teams with the nation’s club sides also facing disappointing exits from 12 yards.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko, one of Ghana’s top clubs has a rotten record in shootouts on the continent.

Their last loss to CARA Brazzaville (7-6) in the CAF Confederations Cup in 2018 was preceded by a lengthy list of shootout defeats including to ASC Linguere (4-2) in 2010 and Port Authority (4-2) in 2007.

Medeama SC were also knocked out of the CAF Confederations Cup after losing 5-4 on penalties to AC Leopards at home in 2014.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Ghanaian sides however with successes on penalties in the famous U-20 World Cup win for the Black Satellites and for the Black Stars B team against Burkina Faso in the WAFU tournament.

In the 2011 All-Africa Games men’s football final, Ghana took the gold medal by beating South Africa on penalties.

However, given the number of times losses on penalties have been the difference between the Black Stars claiming a first title in over three decades or the local sides earning some long-overdue success in Africa, and crashing out of tournaments empty-handed, it might be time to put in a lot more time practising those spot-kicks

 

Share1604TweetSend
Previous Post

U-23 AFCON: Ghana loses semi-finals to Cote d’Ivoire on penalties

Next Post

“Ghana is not under a penalty shootout curse”- Ibrahim Tanko

Related Posts

Odartey Lamptey
Ghana Premier League

With time, things will be better- Odartey Lamptey on Ghana Premier League challenges

February 3, 2023
Black Galaxies head coach Annor Walker Photo Courtesy: CAF
Local Football

There must be a big “Dress Up” if Annor Walker stays as Black Galaxies Coach-Frank Nelson

February 3, 2023
Football

Mesut Ozil set to retire from football

February 3, 2023
Hearts Board Member Frank Nelson Nwokolo
Ghana Premier League

Returning Black Galaxies players will affect Hearts of Oak positively-Frank Nelson

February 3, 2023
Premier League

Gabriel Martinelli signs long-term Arsenal contract extension

February 3, 2023
Donkomi

#Donkomi: Nottingham Forest sign free agent Ayew until end of the season

February 3, 2023
Football

GPL: Karela end Kotoko’s six-game unbeaten streak

February 2, 2023
Black Stars

I like Mohammed Kudus playing at Ajax; it’s easy for him to grow there- Odartey Lamptey

February 2, 2023
Load More
Next Post
(Image credit: Images Image)

"Ghana is not under a penalty shootout curse"- Ibrahim Tanko

Top Stories

GFA’s Director of Competitions passes on

Ex-GFA Chairman, Alhaji Jawula passes on at age 74

Imoro Ibrahim: A victim of CHAN’s problematic eligibility criteria

Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of seven of nine charges

RSS Citi Podcasts

  • Citi Business Edition, Friday 3rd February, 2023 February 3, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Citi Breakfast Show, Friday, 3rd February, 2023 February 3, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Auto Show, Thursday, 2nd February, 2023 February 2, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Sister Sister, Thursday 2nd February, 2023 February 2, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Eyewitness News, Thursday, 2nd February, 2023 February 2, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Citi Breakfast Show, Thursday, 2nd February, 2023 February 2, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Eyewitness News, Wednesday, 1st February, 2023 February 1, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Citi Breakfast Show, Wednesday, 1st February, 2023 February 1, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Transfer Deadline Day Donkomi, Tuesday, 31st January, 2023 February 1, 2023 Citi97.3
  • Citi Trends, Tuesday, 31st January, 2023 January 31, 2023 Citi97.3
Citi Sports Online

© 2019 Citi Sports Online

  • Home
  • News
  • Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Local Football
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Livescores
  • Sports Panorama
  • Videos
  • World Cup
  • AFCON

© 2019 Citi Sports Online

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Citi Sports Cookie Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT