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Ghanaians downhearted over Black Stars AFCON defeat

Xinhua, February 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ghana went quiet after the senior national soccer team the Black Stars were defeated by Cote d'Ivoire in the grand finale of the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Even in the midst of the ongoing power crisis, millions of soccer fans stayed glued to their television sets to watch the live telecast of the crucial encounter which was a repeat of the 1992 finals in Dakar, Senegal.

Many had belief in the team that it will avenge the painful defeat to Cote d'Ivoire in 1992.

But that couldn' t materialize as the Black Stars failed to glitter as they were beaten 9-8 on penalties by Cote d'Ivoire to lift its second AFCON trophy after 23-years and second for Cote d'Ivorian coach Herve Renard.

The look of dejection and disappointment were written all over the faces of the fans and it will take a long time to heal.

"I am disappointed that we couldn' t win the cup. But it' s a fight well fought," said Yaw Amakye, a fan who looked dejected moments after Ghana shot-stopper Razak Braimah missed the final kick to hand victory to the Elephants.

"Better luck next time...so close, yet so far away," Andrew Kagya, a 22-year-old fan said.

Others believe the team did and that the dream of annexing an AFCON trophy after a long wait is still alive.

"Their target was to do well and by all standards they've done well, haven't they?" retorted Agnes Boasiako, a bar attendant in the Port City of Tema.

And for Ghana coach Avram Grant, it was a disappointing way to lose after a good run of form.

"I feel painful to lose like this," Ghana coach Avram Grant said after the game in Bata.

"I feel proud of what the boys did today. This is football. And things like this can happen. We were the better side but in penalties, anything can happen."

Despite their loss, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Afriyie Acquah and Kwesi Appiah bowed out with some individual awards.

Atsu was named the tournament's most valuable player as well as the best goal of the competition following his great strike against Guinea during the group stages.

Ayew bowed out with the highest scoring prize after scoring three goals in the competition.

Acquah was named the best player of the final game while Appiah bagged the fair-player prize for the competition. Endi