The Black Stars of Ghana arrived in Accra yesterday after a disappointing campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
The Stars were kicked out of the competition by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at the 1/16th stage of the competition via the lottery of penalty shoot-outs.
Ghana fought from a goal down to the very last minute of regulation time when a mistimed header from a Tunisian defender fetched Ghana a deserved equaliser, having been denied a clear goal by the South African referee who adjudged Thomas Partey had handled a ball on the way to scoring that goal.
They eventually lost 5-4
from the spot after new boy; Caleb Ekuban missed Ghana’s second kick of the
session.
Based in Ismailia, the team moved to the Cairo
International Airport on Wednesday where they connected to Ghana in the wee
hours of yesterday.
The team touched down without Reading defender
Andy Yiadom and Caleb Ekuban who decided to join their respective teams in London
and Milan for pre-season.
They were welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) by the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof. Peter Twumasi who encouraged them not to be downhearted but take the disappointment in their stride and return as a much more improved side.
Yesterday’s arrival was without the pomp and pageantry often displayed by fans for successful teams and individual sportsmen and women that excel.
It is also considered the country’s worst performance in the competition since 2006 where Ghana has on regular notes tasted semi quarter final, semi final or final berths.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
