Ghana Deaf spank Nigerian counterparts

Accra, June 6, GNA - Ghana's Paralympic Deaf football team on Sunday spanked their Nigerian counterparts 5 -0 to qualify to meet South Africa for the single African slot for the 2005 Deaf Olympic Games in Melbrone, Australia.

The Ghanaians who were beaten 3-0 in Lagos have thus qualified on a 5-3 aggregate. First half score was 3-0.

The homesters started the game on a fast note with fast breaks and beautiful footwork that saw the visitors resorting to hard tackles but unable to contain the fast Ghanaian attackers.

In one of their moves, centre forward Prince Buronya who scored a hat trick, beat the defence on the run and with beautiful footwork he made no mistake in displacing keeper Lucky Anyanwoile for the opener in the 14th minute.

The Captain of the Ghanaian side, Godfred Baffoe increased the tally in the 15th following a sustained pressure.

Determined to carry the day, the Ghanaians controlled the midfield and carried the game to their opponents and in one of their moves Buronya was on hand to slot in the third goal in the 38th minute to end the first half.

Five minutes into the second half, the Skipper of the Ghanaian side, Baffoe was shown the red card for a second bookable offence but the visitors failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage to at least get a goal.

Cheered on by the few home fans that saw the presence of Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State in Charge of Education, Youth and Sports, and Mr B.T Baba, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Ghanaians showed their determination of qualifying by attacking from all angles and that seemed to confuse the visitors.

Inside left Samuel Opoku in the 58th minute, beat two defenders on the run before chipping the ball into the far corner of the net to beat onrushing substitute keeper, Jamiu Adbdoyin for the fourth goal.

Prince Buronya who was a mouthful for the Nigerian defence followed up by beating two defenders on the run after combining beautifully with Samuel Opuni and Kwame Asante to slot in his third goal and Ghana's fifth in the 76th minute.

In the dying minutes of the game, the Nigerians rallied round for a face saving goal, but their efforts were either repelled by the tall defence men of the Ghanaians or ended up shooting off target and messing up the few chances that came their way.

Ghana : Alfred Deko, Isaac Eshun, Bernard Kwateng, Eric Sarkodie, Jonny Oti Agyei/ Samuel Apprey, Awudu Anyass, Samuel Opuni, Kwame Asante, Godfred Baffoe, Yahaya Grushie/Alex Okyere and Prince Buronya.

Nigeria: Lucky Anyanwoile/Jamiu Adbdoyin, Okoye Sunday, Cletus Ndakire, Audu Emmanuel, Bakare Demola/Johnson Ubenyi, Adblani Olaniyan, Oduwale Bolaji/ Awai Sylvester, Laya Samuel, Tayo Sule/ Faith Edweh, Doji Joshua and Hammer Mumoh.