WAFU CUPGhana Lose To Togo, Face Nigeria In S/Final

The Black Stars of Ghana failed to capitalise on the advantage of playing with a one-man advantage against the Hawks of Togo in the reverse fixture of the West Africa Football Union, WAFU, Nations Cup this evening at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria as they were defeated 4-3 on penalties.

The match ended at regulation time 2-1, same as their first encounter, thus setting the stage for penalty shootout. As it is, the Black Stars of Ghana, who finished second in Group B, would on Thursday face the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who topped Group A in the first semi-final match, while Togo would play Liberia, who finished second in Group A, same day.

The Ghanaians approached the match with confidence, looking to consolidate on the outcome of their first encounter, but they got a rude shock, when the centre referee, Solomon Lamine of Guinea awarded a penalty to Togo after a Ghanaian defender handled the ball in the 18 yard box barely three minutes into the clash. It was a replay of what happened in their first meeting, when the centre referee awarded Ghana a penalty for a similar offence.
But the Togolese failed to convert the spot kick. And the first half ended goalless. Few minutes after Togo failed to score, Sename Dove Wome was given the marching orders for a foul tackle on a Ghanaian player.

The Togolese, who finished the encounter with one man down were rewarded few minutes into the second half, when they were awarded a free kick. It was taken by Arimi Yao but was deflected by Ghana’s Akwente Cyril with his goalkeeper, David Adjei having no answer to it.
At exactly 68 minutes into the tie, Ghana’s Kpodo Edward was sent off for a bad tackle and a free kick was awarded.
This was converted to goal and it sent the Togolese fans into wild jubilation.  

A total of two red cards and seven yellow cards were issued by the centre referee.