Nelspruit, Feb. 6, GNA - Burkina Faso denied Ghana a chance to fight for a fifth Nations Cup trophy on penalties in a second semi final game played at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday in Nelspruit.
After a one- all score after 120 minutes, the Stallions sealed their first ever place in the final after converting three of their penalties against Ghana's two to book a date with Nigeria in the last two battle on Sunday in Johannesburg.
Isaac Vorsah, Emmanuel Clottey and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu missed their spot kicks whilst BaKary Kone, Aristide Bance and Henry Traore scored to rob Ghana an opportunity to push for the trophy.
Coach Kwasi Appiah was forced to effect a tactical switch in seven minutes after racing John Painstil pulled a muscle in an attempt to clear a ball to be replaced by Solomon Asante.
Ghana raced into the lead in 12minutes from the spot when Wakaso Mubarak sent goalkeeper Daouda Diakite the wrong way after Christian Atsu was adjudged to have been impeded in the box.
The Stallions, livid by Tunisian referee Slim Jedidi's decision to deny a strong challenge on Jonathan Pitriopa only to award Ghana what appeared to be a 'soft' penalty began to press after the goal.
But it was Wakaso who almost grabbed himself a brace when he unleashed a long drive but goalkeeper Diakite dived twice in succession to save once and again from the rebound to keep the Stallions in the game.
Soon, Prejuce Nakoulma got to the end of a ball nicely worked out in the middle. After beating Harrison Afful to a pacy run and caught in-between the latter and Isaac Vorsah, Nakoulma let fly one wide with space and compromised goalkeeper Fatau Dauda at his mercy.
Burkina Faso launched an attack and Bance came close to pulling parity on 53 minutes when he towered his markers to head from a corner kick.
The blonde-hair Bance's effort appeared to be heading into the net but goalkeeper Dauda grabbed well as it appeared the ball had crossed the line. Inspite of protest from the Burkinabe, referee Jedidi refused to award a goal.
But Bance was to have his effort rewarded in 60 minutes when Badu was shoved off in an attempt to trap a ball. The former, picked out in the Ghana goal area got to the end of the ball to slot past Dauda for the equalizer.
Atsu had a rear opportunity to put Ghana ahead 85 minutes when he ghosted past the Burkinabe defence but the FC Porto player shot lamely for goalkeeper Diakite to gather.
Burkina Faso took charge of the game after it was pushed to extra time and Ghana was lucky to have stayed in the game as Bance and Pitriopa led a charge on the Stars in succession.
In-between, it needed Dauda to parry from Bance and Afful to clear off the line to push the game into the lottery of penalties.
Line-up
Fatau Dauda, John Paintsil/ Solomon Asante, Harrison Afful, Isaac Vorsah, John Boye, Rabiu Mohammed/ Derek Boateng, Christian Atsu, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan, Wakaso Mubarak/Emmanuel Clottey
(By Veronica Commey, GNA Correspondent in Nelspruit, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)
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