PENALTY GOAL ROBS STARS

From Ackah Anthony, FreetownA HIGHLY questionable penalty sure to win a place in football's book of shame last Saturday robbed the Black Stars of a much-needed France '98 victory against Sierra Leone.The Black Stars seemed to have victory in sight until the 87th minute in the match against the Leone Stars when Nigerian referee Barchadeau Lucien shattered all hopes.The early stages of the game remained balanced until the 23rd minute when the Black Stars hit the back of the net through right winger Christian Sabah. A beautiful combination between skipper Abedi Pele and striker Arthur Moses finally ended with the ball rolling into the path of Sabbah. A shot by him took a ricochet off the Sierra Leonean defender resulting in a goal.

Incensed by this goal, and roared on by the packed-to capacity stadium, the Leone Stars took the fight to the Black Stars and nearly got the equaliser a minute later. Danger boy Mohammed Kalloum tore the Ghanaian defence apart but his goal-bound shot was tipped over the post for a corner kick by goalkeeper Addo. The kick was wasted.The determination of the Black Stars to get a second goal became manifest as the attacking line of Sabbah, Arthur Moses, Tony Yeboah , Abedi and C.K. Akunnor, with the sup port of Mohammed Gargo, piled pressure on the Sierre Leonean defence.In the 39th minute, for instance. Abedi received a lovely pass from the midfield and raced deep into the opponent defence. He beat two defenders and came face to face with Leone Stars, goalie Brima Kamara and just as the whole stadium thought the second goal for Ghana was inevitable the Sierra Leonean keeper dived straight into the mid-section o Abedi to grab the ball.

The clash was so violent Abedi had to be stretched off the pitch to receive attention. The goalie too had to be attended to.In the 61st minute Leone Stars' playmaker, Mohammed Kalloum had the greatest opportunity to equaliser for his side After disposing of three defenders, he fired a great shot. The fans rose to their feet to greet the equaliser, but ever-alert Simon Addo who had a marvelous day saved the situation.Kwame Ayew came on for Arthur Moses in the 65tl minute and although he brought some power to the Stars attack, the Leone Stars defence succeeded in containing it.Mallam Yahaya also came on to replace Tony Yeboah it the 75th minute but it still didn't help much as the Black Star still found it difficult to move forward.When referee Lucien started to award series of infringe meets against the Black Stars around their box, Ghanaians at the stadium had the premonition that something tragic was it store for them. It came as little surprise to some of them when the penalty was. awarded against the Black Stars in the 87th minute.A clearance by Osei Kuffuor resulted in a corner-kick When the kick was taken, the ball hit the mid-section of Sabah and rolled down the thighs to the ground. Referee Lucien however, whistled for a penalty. The kick taken by Junior Tembu fetched the Leone Stars the badly needed equaliser.While the ecstasy among Sierra Leoneans was like they, had won the World Cup itself, the mood among the Black Stars was one of melancholy.

They were depressed beyond description. Christian Sabbah wept bitterly for conceding the penalty.The strange thing about the Penalty was that it we. awarded some seconds after the ball had been cleared out of the box.That wasn't the only strange thing that happened. Irate fans took up position right in front of the Ghanaian technical bench and despite protests from Coach Rinus Israel to the match commissioners table, the matter received no attentionBlack Stars: Simon Addo, Frank Amankwaa, Patrick Allotey Osei Kuffuor, Mohammed Gargo, Sam Johnson Christian Sabbah, Arthur Moses/Kwame Ayew, Ton, Yeboah/Mallam Yahya, Abedi Pele, C. K. Akunnor.? Morocco beat Gabon 4-0 in their match in Libreville Saudi-based strikers Bassir and Ahmed Babja scored two goals apiece in- the third, 10th, 43rd and 45th minutes. Fans threw stones at the Gabonese players during the second hall resulting in a hold-up.