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WHAT HAPPENED
The Ghana Black Stars lost 3-0 to the Mali Eagles in an international friendly on Friday night.
Head coach CK Akonnor’s first game since his appointment in January saw the Stars put on an uninspiring performance at the Emir sports complex in Antalya, Turkey.
Coach Akonnor gave debut starts to three players in the Ghana lineup. The Malians brought the game to the Black Stars and scored the first goal through captain Hamari Traore. The Mali right-back latched on to a poor play by the Ghana defense and slammed a brilliant ball into the legs of Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi to record the first goal in three minutes.
Ghana took a long time to adjust to the game as the team lacked creativity and determination.
Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku and Bernard Mensah looked very heavy and delicate, as they lost almost every attack from the trio of Mali Cheick Doucoure, Fofana Mamadou Haidara Amadou and Toni Kevin.
Rookie Eugene Ansah was replaced by teenager Kamaldeen Suleymana before the break. Mali went into halftime with a goal up and the best team of the night.
Ghana made another substitution before the start of the second half by taking out Bernard Mensah and bringing in Emmanuel Lomotey, but that did not give an immediate result as the Malians scored again early in the first two minutes of the second half.
Teenager El Bilal Touré headed a sumptuous cross from Harare Traore to give his team the second goal.
Mali did a good job with Andre Ayew, Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew. They prevented Ghana from playing, rendering the trio ineffective in the game throughout the night.
French defender Nicholas Opoku limped with a sprained ankle and was replaced by Joseph Aidoo.
Mali added the third through Amadou Haidara to end Ghana’s gruesome performance on the night. Thomas Partey saw his long-range effort in late 82North Dakota minute of the game fly miles away.
WHATS NEXT
Ghana will play another friendly against Asian champions and 2022 World Cup host Qatar on Monday, October 12 at the Titanic sports complex in Antalya, Turkey.
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