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01.09.2008 Football News

Starlets Thrash Libya

By Daily Guide
Starlets Thrash Libya
01.09.2008 LISTEN

The Black Starlets last Saturday put up an impressive performance to beat their Libyan counterparts 3-0 in the first leg of the 8th African Under-17 Championship qualifier played at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Felix Adjei and Frank Acheampong scored a goal each in the first half while Kwame Nzor also scored once in the second half in a game that saw Ghana having a two- goal advantage by halftime.

The Starlets could have scored more goals if they had taken their chances especially in the first half.

There was drama before the match, when the Moroccan national anthem was played instead of that of Libya. The Match Commissioner, Njipendi Marcel from Cameroon therefore ordered the organizers to look for the Libyan national anthem and play it after the recess.

Starlets' coach, Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie's desire to test his side's strength against other African squads after winning a friendly soccer tournament in Cote D'ivoire, was evident when before the kick-off he asked his charges to take the game very seriously due to its nature.

When the Gambian referee, Ebenezer Konah ordered for the beginning of proceedings, it was the Starlets who proved superior in the initial exchanges, as they pinned their opponents in their own half until Felix Adjei got the opener in the 6th minute.

He latched on an unexpected pass from Mohamed Alhassan inside the Libyans' box and fired a feeble grounder that beat onrushing Emaddin Ragab in goal for Libya.

Frank Acheampong was on target eight minutes later when he converted a perfect cross from skipper Kwame Frimpong to give Starlets the second goal.

After recess, Starlets continued their dominance over the Libyans, and this was crowned with a 59th minute goal by Kwame Nsor who headed home a pullout from Frank Acheampong for the third goal.

The last 10 minutes of the game was for the Libyan goalkeeper Emaddin Ragab who made a lot of splendid saves that prevented his side from being buried under an avalanche of goals.

Coach Afranie injected more vim, bringing on Aaron Amoah for skipper Kwame Frimpong and Moro Mubarack for Mohamed Alhassan in the 61st and 78th minutes respectively. Starlets' goalkeeper James Nkansah was on a holiday throughout the game.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDESPORTS just after the game coach Afranie said it was a good game but he would not predict a qualification for his team.

“At least the first battle has been won and it was the first international and competitive game for my boys”, he revealed.

He admitted that the Libyan team was a good side that had been in camp for many months in Tunisia preparing for competitions and with Libya's numerous academies, they could always spring surprises.

In other matches, Sudan and South Africa lost to Rwanda and Malawi at home 1-2 and 0-1 respectively; Cameroon overcame Gabon 2-0 in Yaounde; Mali beat Niger 1-0 in Bamako; while Tunisia and Burkina Faso settled for a goalless draw.

By Pierre Toto

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