Soccer
Burkina Faso defy odds
Burkina Faso forward Bance (L) vies with Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah during the 2013 African Cup of Nations semi-final match at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday. Burkina Faso won 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended 1-1. PHOTO BY AFP
Posted Friday, February 8 2013 at 02:00
In Summary
The last meeting of the Super Eagles and the Eagles was during the goalless draw at the 2008 Africa Cup tournament in Ghana.
The defeat leaves them heading down to Port Elizabeth for the bronze-medal tie tomorrow rather than lining up at Soccer City 24 hours later against Nigeria in the final.
Ghana arrived at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with high hopes of securing their first title for 31 years, but instead face a repeat of last year when they finished fourth after losing 2-0 to Mali in a play-off.
Konadu said it was up to him, head coach Kwesi Appiah and the rest of the technical staff to lift the players’ morale. “It’s our responsibility to motivate the team, to encourage them. We’ll do our best.”
Konadu, standing in for Appiah, who was not up to attending the press conference, added: “Everyone back home was expecting us to win the Cup, but it didn’t happen. “But all is not lost. We will go out and fight against Mali for third place, and then reorganise ourselves for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.” He praised Gyan and the rest of the team for their performance despite the painful outcome.“The boys did their best but we lost, we will take it as men, and good luck to Burkina Faso.”
Appiah, a member of the last Ghana side to win the title in 1982, later felt up to giving his reaction on domestic television. “Burkina are a very, very good team. It was a very competitive game but we were just unlucky. We had some chances before full-time, but we did not take them,” he said. “When it comes to penalties, anything can happen. Unfortunately, we did not make it.”
source: AFP
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