fifa u-20 cup: it's ghana!

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What a match! Ten-man Ghana u-20 football team defeated 11-man Brazil team in Cairo to lift the coveted trophy. This victory is memorable for many reasons; first it is the first time an African country is lifting the cup. Before this year's competition, the best performance for African countries is second place (twice by Nigeria and once by Ghana). Secondly, the competition was held on African soil. Brazil was the better team from the inception of the match but the resilient team prevented the boys from Brazil from scoring. Things went from bad to worse for Ghana when a Ghanaian player was red-carded just before the end of the first half. The first half ended goal-less. The second half of the match and the two halves of the extra time yielded no goal. Now came the point of no return, penalty shoot out! Brazil scored three of their first four penalty kicks. Ghana managed to score only two. Brazil could have won if the fifth and the last kick was scored or if Ghana had missed the fifth kick; the Brazilian player kicked the ball over the bar to give Ghana a lifeline and Ghana scored! Then comes the sudden death penalty shoot out. Brazil played first and Agyei in goal for Ghana parried the ball to safety, no goal for Brazil. The Ghanaian player made no mistake with Ghana's chance, he scored. Ghana is the champion. Some felt this win of Ghana is a good omen of for Africa come the summer of next year when the whole world will have to gather in South Africa for the world cup. We shouldn't forget the attention of the whole world will be on Africa again this October when Nigeria hosts the FIFA U-17 world cup. Congratulations to the gallant warriors from Ghana, congratulations to Africa.