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01.09.2008 Football News

Great start!…as Starlets hammer Young Greens

01.09.2008 LISTEN
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum - Ghanaian Chronicle

Ghana's Black Starlets got off on a bright note, in their campaign to the 8th African U-17 Championship, when they chalked a 3-0 win over their Libyan counterparts, in the first round leg clash at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, on Saturday.

Two first half strikes by Felix Adjei, with another in the second half by substitute Kwame Nsor, gave the Starlets a comfortable lead, ahead of the second leg in Tripoli, in a fortnight.

The Starlets were however unimpressive, as they played as if there was nothing at stake, despite flashes of brilliance from Achempong, Mahatma Otoo and Mohamed Alhassan.

After the six minute mark, Adjei broke the deadlock with a feeble shot, which grazed the post before kissing the net, after he was put through by Alhassan.

Eight minutes on Adjei, again, consolidated the lead for the Starlets, by connecting home Captain Kwame Nkrumah's free-kick, from the right flank.

The Starlets continued to dominate the one-sided game, but the strikers were wasteful in front of goal. The Libyans, who showed occasional brilliance, resumed the second half on a bright note, but could only boast of Mohamed Ghani's near miss, in the 76th minute.

Starlets Coach, Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie, brought on lanky striker Nsor in the 58 minute, and it paid off a minute later, when he soared above the defenders to head home a goal beautifully, after he was fed by Acheampong.

The Libyan goalie, Emmadir Ragab, was the hero for his side, over the last ten minutes, as he denied the Starlets good chances, with spectacular saves in the 81st, 83rd and 88th minutes.

The second leg will come off in Tripoli on Friday, September 12.

The winner after both legs, will face the winner of the clash between Gambia and Sierra Leone, in the final round. Line Up: Ghana - James Nkansah, Kwame Frimpong/Aaron Amoah, Isaac Eshun, Ibrahim Moro, Ainooson Abeiku, Masahudu Basit, Mohammed Alhassan/Moro Mubarak, Mohammed Fatau, Mahatma Otoo, Frank Acheampong, Felix Adjei/Kwame Nsor

Libya - Emmadir Ragab, Mohamed El Manir, Mutasem Guma, Ahmed Eltrbi, Rabel Kaaber, Mohamed Elfezz, Hassan Khalifa/Mohamed Doza, Abdul Malik Alyam, Mohmaed Shiwi, Mohamed Gani/Abdallah Jadid, Sami Alghulla/Majdi Belgas

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