Soccer-Coach assigns reasons for Angolans 5-0 defeat

Accra, (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. '99,

Coach Francisco Abrev, of the Angolan under-20 team said his team's 5-0 defeat to Ghana in the second group A match yesterday was due to the first-half expulsion of their key player and the early penalty to the Satellites. Ghana converted a 19th-minute penalty after striker Owusu Afriyie was brought down in the penalty area and Midfielder Andre Mateus was shown the red card in the 39th minute for intentionally elbowing Ghanaian defender Kofi Amoako He said the two incidents demoralised the playing body and affected their morale. In a post-match interview in Accra today, Coach Abrev admitted that the Satellites played a much-improved game, especially in the last 20 minutes of the match, than intheir first match on Sunday. "If Ghana should continue to play like this, she is likely to meet Nigeria, one of the favourites, in the finals", said Abrev On his chances against Mali on Saturday, he said though his boys are already out of the competition, they need to salvage their image by beating the Malians. "The players are very determined to go back to Angola with at least a win in their maiden appearance at the Africa U-20 tournament", the coach said. Asked whether Wednesday's results would not affect the boys, the coach said "they have long forgotten about it and psychologically prepared to beat the Malians". Ghana meet Cameroon in the other group A last match on Saturday, February 27. GRi