On this day 1 February 2009 (Exactly 10 years ago) A brace from striker Ransford Osei powered Ghana’s Black Satellites to their third African Youth Championship title after a 2-0 victory over Cameroon at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
Osei, who also finished as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals ensured Ghana’s claimed the ultimate at the expense of the Cameroonians.
The feat ensured that the Ghanaians confirmed their superiority of the Cameroonians after beating the Indomitable Cubs by a similar margin in the 1993 edition in Mauritius.
The closely fought encounter was characterised by midfield action as both teams struggled to make inroads into each others half.
But the Ghanaians made the best of the only chance of the opening half on 22 minutes, with Osei tapping home with the inside of his foot from a Samuel Inkoom pass from an ensuing cornerkick.
In the build up to the goal, Dominic Adiyiha saw his goalbound shot intercepted by a Cameroonnian defender.
The Cameroonians were gifted with an opportunity to draw equal two minutes to half time but Zoua Daogari blasted wide with the Ghanaian goalie daniel Adjei completely beaten.
Cameroon champions in 1995, resumed the second half strongly and pinned the Ghanaians to their half of the pitch in their quest to draw parity but the Satellites responded positively.
In the 58th minutes, Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah scopped the ball off the line after Inkoom had inadvertently diverted the ball into the net following a Cameroonian build-up.
The Cameroonians maintained dominance but their hopes of the equalizer died out in the 86th minute when Osei connected in again from Inkoom’s pass.
The Ghanaian team went wild moments after Rwandan referee Gasingwa Michel brought proceedings to an end.
Ghana LIneup: Daniel Agyei, Samuel Inkoom, David Addy, Jonathan Mensah, Daniel Addo, Awako Gladson, Agyemang Badu, Andre Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah, Isaac Donkor, Ransford Osei.
SUBS:Salifu Latif, Enoch Kofi Adu, Asiamah Godfred Rockson, Abeiku Quansah, Boampong Phillip, Kassenu Ghandy, Addo Joseph.
On this day 1 February 2014( Exactly 5 years ago) Libya claimed their first senior African title with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Ghana in the final of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The final had finished 0-0 after 90 minutes before Joshua Tijani missed the crucial spot-kick to give Libya victory.
Ghana’s Abdul Mohamed had the best chance to win the match in extra-time but put his shot wide.
Both goalkeepers then saved two penalties each in the shoot-out before Tijani missed the target.
It was originally intended that Libya would be the hosts of the tournament, but the civil unrest in the country meant that the event ended up taking place in South Africa instead.
In the final, a heavy schedule took its toll on both teams.
After a run of six games in the space of 20 days, including extra-time in each of the two semi finals, they struggled to create any clear-cut scoring chances in the regular 90 minutes.
Both sides spurned good chances to break the deadlock in the second period of extra time. First Mohamed saw his shot roll tantalisingly past the right upright and a few minutes later Libya’s Abdelsalam Omar, unmarked in the six-yard box, had his header well saved from point blank range by Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams.
Given the history of past matches between these two countries, extra time came as no surprise.
Their previous two meetings in the group stages of this year’s competition and the 2009 event ended in 1-1 draws, while Ghana won the penalty shoot-out in the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations final after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time.
In the day’s third-placed play-off, Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 1-0 thanks to Christian Chinonso Obiozor’s late Apps.
On this day 1 February 2008 (Exactly 8 years ago) Mali striker Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 African Footballer of the Year award , the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.
The Sevilla forward became the first European-born player to win the award after beating off competition from Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba and Michael Essien of Ghana.
Kanoute was nominated for his role in helping Mali qualify for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals and triumphs with Spanish club Sevilla in the UEFA and King’s Cups.
Kanoute played for his native France as a junior international before switching allegiance in 2004 to Mali, his father’s country.
He is the first Malian to win the award since Salif Keita took the inaugural title in 1970.
The honour came three days after Mali were eliminated from the African Nations Cup finals in Ghana with Kanoute injured in their last game against the Ivory Coast.
On this day 1 February 1960 (Exactly 59 years ago) In a classic all-Australian final Rod Laver beat Neale Fraser 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 8-6 to win his first Grand Slam title.
On this day 1 February 1965 (Exactly 54 years ago) Roy Emerson won 3rd consecutive Australian Open title after beating fellow Australian Fred Stolle 7-9, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1.
On this day 1 February 2004 (Exactly 15 years ago) Roger Federer won his first Australian Open title with straight sets victory over Marat Safin of Russia 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.
On this day 1 February 2009 (Exactly 10 years) Rafael Nadal produced a display of incredible defiance to beat Roger Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 and win his first and to date his only Australian Open title.
The Spaniard, then 22, recovered from his marathon semi-final to ruin Federer’s attempt to equal Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal saved 13 of 19 break points as he refused to yield in a stunning match.
On this day 1 February 2015 (Exactly 4 years ago) Serbian ace Novak Đoković won an Open era record 5th Men’s Australian Open singles crown, beating Scotsman Andy Murray 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0.
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
