Accra, – Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has sent a message consoling the national football team after they lost the Africa Cup of Nations final 9-8 in a penalty shoot-out to Ivory Coast.
Maham congratulated the Black Stars team on a “gallant performance” in the final in Bata, Equatorial Guinea late Sunday.
“Kudos #BlackStars. Gallant performance despite our loss. You exceeded our expectations, going from zero to heroes. I am proud of you,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
Ghanaian football fans were left disappointed at the defeat to western African neighbours Ivory Coast – an outcome which recalled the 1992 final in Dakar, Senegal when the Black Stars lost 11-10 on penalties to Ivory Coast.
Accra went silent after the match, as fans watching at various locations around the capital went home quietly.
“Agony as Stars lose to Elephants in historic clash,” was the headline on the website of the state-owned Graphic newspaper.
It had photographs of the victorious Ivorian team celebrating and Ivory Coast’s French coach Herve Renard consoling Ghana midfielder Andre Dede Ayew, who was in tears.
The Graphic said that once again “Ghana basked in all the pain as the Ivorians ran away victors after 120 minutes and a marathon (penalty) shoot-out.”
The state-owned Ghanaian Times had the headline “Black Stars lose gallantly.”
Ghanaian football fans did not appear initially to be interested in the performance of the Black Stars in the tournament following an early exit and indiscipline at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana then lost 2-1 to Senegal in the first group match but celebrated subsequent victories over Algeria and South Africa in the group stage, and Mali and Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
That left fans all the more heartbroken after the dramatic final defeat.- GNA
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