-
 Pionnier des portails web sportifs africains.En ligne depuis 2000 ...
 
Actu : Catégories
Le Roy keen to lift deflated Ghana (09.02.2008)
The two countries were strongly tipped to meet each other in the African Nations Cup final in Accra on Sunday, but instead meet in Kumasi for a game that not many teams enjoy playing after bowing out at the semi-final stage.
The hosts were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon on Thursday in a game described as the "saddest moment of his career" by Le Roy, who now admits that lifting his side at the Baba Yara Stadium will be difficult.
"I have never been sad like this before because we failed to win this game to advance to the finals of the competition," the Frenchman said after their first defeat of the competition.
"This team were so close, very close to reaching the final. They fought for everything and I proud of them.
"I can understand how sad the people of Ghana are. It`s unfortunate our dreams did not materialise. But that is football and now we have to motivate ourselves to play the third-place match."
The home team were without key players John Mensah, Asamoah Gyan and Laryea Kingston in Thursday`s
semi-final defeat. Captain Mensah was suspended after his sending-off against Nigeria in the quarter-final but should return against the Ivorians. Gyan and Kingston could well be rested.
The Elephants come into the game on the back of a 4-1 defeat to Egypt, a result that shocked many including their coach Gerard Gili.
Ivory Coast came into the competition as favourites but were no match for Pharaohs, who passed the ball better and were more clinical with the chances which came their way.
Gili rubbished claims that his side were affected heavily by the loss through injury of goalkeeper Boubacar Barry during the first half.
He said: "The exit of my goalkeeper was not the reason we lost. His absence only meant I lost a chance to make another substitution.
"We did not expect to lose by such a wide margin but the Egyptians pulled it off. We simply had an off day."
Now they must play the hosts, who they last met at the 1996 tournament in South Africa. Ghana won that match 2-0.
Hits: 11490 | Teamtalk | 
| 
| Toutes les ( 0 ) Réactions