Ghana booted out of Olympics by minnows Sudan

Posted On Saturday, 9th April 2011 Welcome to Ghanasoccernet.com, Ghana's most authoritative football news website.

Ghana fans are unhappy about the outcome of the game in Sudan

Ghana made a shock early exit from the 2012 London Olympic Games qualifying competition when they were booted out by lowly Sudan in the first round on Saturday.

The Black Meteors, coached by home trainer David Duncan, could only manage to hold the Sudanese to 1-1 draw in Khartoum.

The Sudanese made things difficult for Ghana with an early goal but Sadick Adams’ strike restored some home for the Black Stars but they were eventually eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.

This means Ghana, one of Africa’s giants football nations have been eliminated by a country considered as a minnow in the continent’s game.

The result is a huge blow to the country’s hopes of continuously building strong national teams while a generation of young players will miss out on building and gaining important tournament experience.

This will also spark a debate about the competence of local coaches after Herbert Addo led Ghana’s local Black Stars team to bomb out of the CHAN tournament

Ghana were tipped as the favourites to win the for next year’s Olympics in London having won the U20 World Cup in Egypt two years ago.

With talented players like Andre Ayew, Agyemang Badu, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, David Addy, Daniel Opare and Dominic Adiyiah all eligible to play for this team.

They headed for Sudan trailing by one goal having lost the first leg in Accra .

The west African country, which has made six appearances at the Games and took the 1992 bronze medals in Barcelona, was not expected to have much trouble with opponents who struggled to make the second round.

But after scraping a solitary-goal success over war-ravaged Somalia, the Sudanese went to Accra two weeks ago and triumphed 1-0 via an additional-time goal from Martin al-Khalees.

It was no more than the east Africans deserved in a competition restricted to under-23 footballers until the finals as they squandered several chances before a cross led to the lone goal.