World cup Qualifier : Sudan Beat Ghana 1-0

Ghana’s hopes of qualifying for their first ever World Cup finals became slimmer on Sunday after losing 1-0 to Sudan in Omdurman. With four African titles under their name the Ghanaians would have to win most of their remaining five matches to break the World Cup jinx.

Sudan scored the only goal in the second half through James Joseph in the 71st minute after receiving a pass from a freekick. Ghanaian goalkeeper Sammy Adjei had handled a back pass on the edge of the box and Ethiopian referee, Tessama Hailmalak whistled for an infringement.

Ghana paraded a side with five players from African super champions, Hearts of Oak and three foreign-based players, including Bayern Munich’s Samuel Osei Kuffour. For Black Stars coach, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, the defeat has not only put his job on the line, but the 1-0 score brought back bitter memories as member of the squad that finished runner-up in the 1970 African Nations Cup final in Khartoum, which Sudan won by the same margin.

Ghana’s preparation for the match was disastrous and there was an outcry nation wide that the squad is indisciplined. But there was some life in the Ghanaian display in Omdurman with Baffour Gyan’s striker ricocheting off the post after lobbing over the keeper. Gyan’s opportunity was the visitors most clear chance and the former Greece-based player could have given his side the lead but he shot wide eight minutes after the restart.

Sudan had the larger share of possession but failed to turn them into chances. However, the host created several opportunities before Yemes settled the tie with the solitary goal. Half way into the second-half, defender Khalid Bakhir floated a cross from a diagonal angle, but it turned into a goal opportunity as the ball almost dropped inside the net after Adjei was off his line.

Sudan - a former power house in the early days of African football - now take their points tally to six, after winning at home against Liberia last year. The Sudanese have lost one match in the group against Nigeria in Port Harcourt last month. But despite the upset over Ghana, the East Africans have a long way to go before they are considered as possible contenders for place in the World Cup finals.

In the other group match, At Monrovia, Liberia beat visiting Sierra Leone on a 65th-minute goal by Zizi Roberts. A heavy security presence of police and military troops armed with automatic rifles and grenade launchers were stationed around the stadium near Liberia's capital and the hotel where Sierra Leone's players were lodged. Relations between the two countries have been tense for nearly a decade. Summary Scorer: Janes Joseph 71 Halftime: 0-0 Liberia 1 Sierra Leone 0 Scorer: Zizi Roberts 65 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 60,000 Group B standings P W D L F A Pts Liberia 4 3 0 1 6 4 9 Nigeria 3 2 0 1 6 2 6 Sudan 3 2 0 1 3 3 6 Ghana 3 1 0 2 6 4 3 Sierra Leone 3 0 0 3 0 8 0 Next matches: March 10 Ghana v Nigeria Sierra Leone v Sudan