The home based Black Stars team on Sunday walloped the Super Eagles of Nigeria by four goals to one to win the 2017 new Fox West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Goals from Stephen Sarfo (two goals), Vincent Atinga and Winfred Cobbina made sure Ghana successfully defended the cup and the people of Ghana, who had not won a trophy in many years, were content and elated, before Ali of Nigeria got a consolation goal after 95minutes.
Generally, the organization of the event was excellent as every game involving the host nation was a sellout.
The Ghana team made history to receive the diadem from the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr. Ahmad Ahmad in his first official tournament since being elected into office.
Every stakeholder and partner, including the sponsors did very well in putting up the event and the standard of play was also superb, as all the 16 countries performed well.
But if there was a particular contributor that over excelled, then it was the spectators at the stadium and the fans who made all the positive noises, as well as the grounds men from Green Grass Technology who ensured that the field was well prepared for the matches.
Despite the fact that the new stadium was not huge and contained maximum15,000 people, it was always a party scene whenever the local Black Stars played and the fans (mostly students) cheered and danced their hearts out.
Incidentally, the historic and tourism city of Cape Coast is the home of the nation's foremost popular best secondary schools and colleges like Mfanstipim, Adisadel, St. Augustines, Wesly Girls, Holy Child, Ghana National and Aggrey Memorial.
There were also the Cape Coast University and Cape Coast Poly Technical Institute as well as other educational bodies whose students stole the show and inspired the players to work harder for victory.
As the Black Stars are known in international tournaments, they did not start on a bright note, but ended as the brightest and best team, scoring the most goals and winning the top scorer of the tournament and the best player awards as well as the virgin trophy.
Nigeria's captain and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa took the best goalkeeper award.
Ghana's home base stars, Goalkeeper Addo, Amos Frimpong, Thomas Abbey, Samuel Sarfo, Vincent Atinga, Gideon Waja, Felix Addo, Kwame Kizoto, Stephen Sarfo, Ahmed Adams, Emmanuel Lomotey, Winful Cobbina, dynamic Patrick Razak and skipper Isaac Twum proved that they can step in the shoes of the senior Black Stars.
For the records, Niger took the bronze medals, Nigeria took the silver medals and Ghana won the gold medals.
Final Squads:
Ghana coach: Maxwell Konadu
Ghana: 1. J Addo, 2. Frimpong, 12. S Sarfo, 5. Atingah, 6. Abbey, 10. Cobbinah, 18. Lomotey, 7. Twum, 8. Waja (17. Razak 57'), 15. K Sarfo (9. Addo 81'), 13. Kizito (14. Adams 68').
Nigeria coach: Salisu Yusuf
Nigeria: 1. Ezenwa, 2. Okoro, 6. Eze, 12. Aniyikaye (5. Ariwachukwu 40'), 3. Akas, 4. Aremu, 8. Ifeanyi, 7. Friday (14. Okechukwu 46'), 11. P Moses, 10. Ali, 9. Okpotu (18. Eduwo 70').
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