Ghana’s dream of making it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has been put on hold by Cote d’Ivoire as the Meteors lost 4-2 on penalties in the semi-finals after the game had ended 2-2 after regulation time.
The Black Meteors came twice from behind to send the game to extra time.
Dao scored the first goal for Cote D’Ivoire in the 13th minute after slotting the ball past Ghana goalkeeper Kwame Baah.
The Ivorians nearly scored the second goal in the 17th minute but Kwame Baah came up with a brilliant save to prevent the ball from entering the net.
Ibrahim Tanko had to change his tactics with a quick substitution just after 27 minutes as he brought on Kwabena Owusu for Robin Polley.
The changes effected by Ibrahim Tanko helped the Meteors team to take control of the game.
Kwabena Owusu nearly got the equalizer for Ghana in the 45th minute but his effort went wide . The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Ivorians.
After recess, the Black Meteors mounted a lot of pressure in search of the equalizer which came in the 50th minute kind courtesy Yaw Yeboah, who connected a cross from Samuel Obeng to level the game for Ghana .
The Ivorians restored their lead in the 85th minute through Dao who scored from a free header.
With just some few minutes to end the game, Evans Mensah got the equalizer for Ghana to send the game to extra-time.
The Black Meteors missed two of their spots kick while Cote d’Ivoire scored four to progress to the final.
The Ivorians have automatically qualified to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Football tournament.
Ghana still have a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games if they are able to pick a win in the third place game to be played on Friday 22 November, 2019 at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.
By Herbert Boakye Yiadom
