Ghana Black Satellites 3-0 Uganda Hippos (Ghana win 4-3 on aggregate)
Uganda Hippos’ hopes of reaching the finals of the 2013 Africa U20 youth championships in Algeria vanished this evening after they lost 3-0 to Ghana’s Black Satellites in the return leg of the second round qualifying tie played at Tamale Sports ground.
Goals from Richmond Nketiah, Ebenezar Attafuah and Emmanuel Gyamfi were enough to help the 2009 champions over turn a 3-1 deficit suffered at the hands of Uganda Hippos in the first leg at Nakivubo stadium on July 28th.
The hosts got an early lead through Richmond Nketiah in the 6th minute after a series of attacks in the opening five minutes.
Maxwell Konadu’s boys should have stretched their lead in the 18th minute but striker Jacob Appau missed from the spot after a foul in the forbidden area. The first half ended with the hosts on top.
After recess, Coach Paul Nkata introduced defender Denis Marco for striker Julius Ogwang to provide more defensive cover and midfielder Joseph Mpande for striker William Wadri but the Black Satellites continued from where they ended the first half and stretched their lead in the 59th minute through Ebenezer Attafuah
With the Hippos in search of a crucial away goal, play maker Gift Ali came on for defensive midfielder Aucho Khalid to add creativity to the team. At this moment, the Ghanaians were in full control of proceedings and through substitute Emmanuel Gyamfi who came on for Richmond Nketiah, they got a deserved third goal to put the score beyond Uganda’s lead.
Even the five minutes of added time could not save Uganda’s day and the final whistle from referee Kiagou Moumouni meant the end of the road for the Hippos with Ghana advancing to the final round of the qualifiers where they will play Morocco for a slot in Algeria 2013 with a 4-3 goal aggregate.
Uganda Hippos Line Up:
Jamal Salim, Nicholas Wadada, Yusuf Mukisa (Cpt), Sam Ssenkomi, Joseph Ocaya, Aucho Khalid (Gift Ali), Geoffrey Kizito Baba, Julius
