Ghana’s national beach soccer team, affectionately known as the Black Sharks, devoured the Sand Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire with a thrilling 5-3 victory in the first leg of the 2024 AFCON Beach Soccer qualification game.
The match, held at the Keta Emancipation Beach on Sunday afternoon, saw the Ivorians start on a high note, piling pressure on the Ghanaians. However, the Black Sharks weathered the storm and took the lead in the sixth minute, courtesy of Cheetah Fc’s Alfred Torsu’s lightning strike.
Wise Nyamdi doubled the lead three minutes later, calmly slotting in a foul to leave the Ivorians reeling. Herve Landro Kande pulled one back for the Sand Elephants in the 11th minute, but Nyamdi was on fire, scoring an incredible overhead kick to extend the Black Sharks’ lead.
Ghana dominated the second period, with poster boy Kini Ticor rising to the occasion to score the fourth goal. Few minutes later, Ticor again with a long-range strike made it 5-0, sending the fans into a frenzy.
However, the Black Sharks took their foot off the pedal in the latter part of the game, allowing the Ivorians to score two consolation goals through Herve Kande and Hans Djedjed.
The 5-3 win gives the Ghanaians a slight advantage going into the second leg in Abidjan on July 27, 2024.
The winner of the tie will book a spot at the 2024 AFCON Beach Soccer.
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Story by: Erica Odeenyin Odoom| univers.ug.edu.gh
