The National Beach Soccer team of Ghana, the Black Sharks defeated the Sand Pharaohs of Egypt 6-5 in the first leg encounter of the 2022 Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON) at the Laboma Beach resort in Accra.
The game, which ended 6-5 saw both sides score against each other back-to- back till the Ghanaian side broke the deadlock to put the game to bed in the final minutes.
Kini Ticor’s first touch of the ball put the Black Sharks in the lead in the opening minutes as he perfectly placed a powerful shot in the right corner of the goalpost, giving the Egyptian goalkeeper no room of getting the ball out of the net.
The Egyptians took over the game with their long balls, trying to break the defence of the home team, but all efforts was fruitless having missed lots of chances.
The Sand Pharoahs still kept their heads up as they took a 2-1 lead, taking full control of the game and changing their tactics to end the first half with a win.
The second half began as the Ghanaian fans began to chant the name of Richard Osa, one of their top players who they believed could kill the game for the side.
Indeed, their wish came to pass as the striker beat the last defender of the Sand Pharoah’s to slot in a bicycle kick to make it 2-2.
The game got more exciting getting to the dying minutes of the second half as the Sand Pharaohs once again held Ghana’s excitement with a 3-2 lead.
The Black Sharks were still up to the task of beating the visitors despite being down by a goal, creating some goal scoring chances and hoping to equal the lead.
It was Michael Sema who found the net this time round, registering his first goal on the scoresheet with a powerful left shot to get the equalizer.
The home team having taken charge of the game, increased the woes of the Egyptians once again with a 4-3 lead.
Ghana’s Reuben Larkin Semabia was a delight to watch in the third half as he kept his side in the game giving the visitors no way to pull a trigger.
The back-to-back goals affair continued once again as the midfield of the Ghanaian side was widely opened, which left Mohammed Hussein with no option than to slot in a shot which made it 4-4.
Richard Osa, having been stopped by the Egyptian goalkeeper several times got it right this time round as he turned the game in favour of the Ghanaian side before the visitors equalized again.
Both sides were of high hope to get the final goal in the last minute, but Coach Daniel Kotey Neequaye’s super sub did the magic for the Ghanaian side as Victor Osa tapped in a short pass to end the game 6-5.
The return leg encounter of the AFCON qualifiers would be played in Cairo, Egypt.
The 2022 Beach Soccer AFCON would be staged in Mozambique from October 21st to 30,2022.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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