Audio By Carbonatix
Ghana attacker Frank Boateng believes Thursday's penalty shoot-out victory over Cameroon at the ongoing Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania defies popular belief that the nation has poor penalty takers.
The Black Satellites booked a place in the semi-final of the championship with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win, the game having ended 1-1 after extra-time. Goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim was ultimately the hero of the shoot-out.
Ghana's ability to send the game into penalties was down to Boateng, who registered a prompt equaliser after Kevin-Prince Milla put Cameroon in front in the first half of the extra period.
"Our dream of winning the competition remains intact and we are determined to win just as we did in Benin," Boateng, who was adjudged as the official Man of the Match, said at the post-match press conference, according to footballghana.
"Again, we have shown once again that we are good when it comes to penalties. Now we are motivated going into the next game."
It was the Satellites' second straight shoot-out win, having overcome Niger 5-3 in the semi-final of the Wafu Zone B Cup which served as qualifiers for the Afcon.
Until then, Ghana has suffered a series of penalty heartaches.
The senior Black Stars team, whose best appearance at the Fifa World Cup ended in a shoot-out defeat to Uruguay in 2010, exited the 2019 Afcon by a shoot-out defeat to Tunisia.
The West Africans' last berth in the grand finale of Afcon also ended in disappointment after another round of penalties in 2015.
In 2014, the home-based Black Stars also lost the final of the African Nations Championship to Libya on penalties
Ghana boss Abdul Karim Zito, meanwhile, is over the moon by the latest feat.
“I want to thank my colleague coaches back home in Ghana who never stopped trusting in me and gave words of encouragement that this team can make it," said the coach, as reported by the Ghana FA's official website.
“This is a big achievement for me and for all coaches in Ghana.
“I reminded them [the players] that this tournament is about them and their future as footballers. I also told them most importantly they have to think about Ghana and die for the country.
“For now, we are waiting to know our opponents for the semi-finals then we roll out our plan for that match."
Ghana await the winner of Friday's quarter-final clash between the Gambia and the Central African Republic for a semi-final showdown on Monday.
Latest Stories
-
NDC’s demolishing exercises will feature in 2028 election – Adom Otchere
7 minutes -
“I was hoping for 60%” – Paul Adom-Otchere on Dr Bawumia’s flagbearer win
25 minutes -
Africa’s growth depends on empowering SMEs, women and youth – CEO of Telecel Group
42 minutes -
Force for good in action: Absa’s colleague volunteerism in 2025
51 minutes -
14-Year-old boy drowns at Fiapre Catholic Junction in Bono Region
51 minutes -
KIA too big to be named after Kotoka – Kofi Bentil
53 minutes -
NPP should be the last to talk about renaming national monuments – Atta Issah
1 hour -
Global tourism leaders to gather in Kenya to shape the future of tourism resilience
1 hour -
Smart Banking for a world on steroids: How integrated digital platforms are quietly redefining convenience
1 hour -
KIA: Lt. Gen. Kotoka did nothing for Ghana – Atta Issah
1 hour -
Senyo Hosi demands national framework for renaming public infrastructure
1 hour -
The Intentional Money Playbook: Winning with your personal finances in 2026 (Part II)
2 hours -
Paul Adom-Otchere reveals past proposal to rename Kotoka Airport after Kofi Annan
2 hours -
KIA: Gov’t proposed ‘Accra International Airport’, not Kwame Nkrumah International Airport – Atta Issah
2 hours -
Fire ravages container shops on Spintex Road
2 hours
