South Africa qualified for the All-Africa Games football final by defeating Senegal on penalties Tuesday after a 0-0 draw at Maxaquene Stadium in the Mozambican capital. ‘Baby Bafana’ won the shoot-out 6-5 when goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo made a superb save to thwart Ba Ibahima Yigo and they will face defending champions Cameroon or Ghana in the decider at the national stadium Saturday.
“I think the boys showed some mettle,” boasted South African coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba after the tense semi-final while acknowledging his team missed chances. South Africa dominated the first 45 minutes without converting their advantage into goals.
Senegal won more possession in the second half and almost snatched a winner in stoppage time but Niasse Baye Oumar failed to convert a close-range chance.
Extra time took its toll on exhausted footballers in 34-degree-centigrade heat and the standard of play slipped despite the encouragement of spectators.
Senegal goalkeeper Malick Traore was twice unlucky in the shoot-out, touching the ball without being able to prevent it entering the net. He also had a save disallowed as the referee ruled that he moved forward off his line before Sibusiso Mxoyana kicked the ball.
Ghana wins first medal: Ajara Mohammed became the first Ghanaian athlete to grab a gold medal for the country in the paralympic event at the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo at the Zimpeto National Stadium on Monday morning.
Ajara who won gold at the All Africa Games in Algeria four years ago, raced ahead of other competitors with a distance of about 100 meters to finish the 1,500 meter race.
She remains the continent’s queen in the 1500 meters with a solid record in the division to win her the country’s first gold medal at the pan African Sports Festival.
Anita Fodjour, the 2010 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Female Athlete of the Year picked bronze medal in the same race making up two medals for the nation in one event.
Fodjour, who got a silver medal at the last Games in Algeria, could have repeated the same feat but for interference on her by a Nigeria athlete.
Both Ajara and Anita will are expected compete for more honours in the 400 meters race, along side Bernice Frimpong and Asana Awudu.
James Adjetey Adjei, a member of the technical team of the paralympic squad told the GNA Sports that the performance of the team further strengthens the call for more attention and support for disabled sports in the country.
He said the success of the girls at the festival has brought a massive relieve to the contingent and reduced the days of mental trauma as the Ghana team had competed for some days without medals in the competition.
Adjetey Adjei was optimistic that the paralympic team will deliver four gold medals for the country before the end of the competition.
Ghana’s medal package has now increased to five after three bronze medals from Badminton and Boxing events.
