Ghana defeats Sudan, but both teams fail in World Cup bid

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) Emmanuel Osei-Kuffuor scored the sole goal of the match in the 44th minute Sunday as Ghana beat Sudan 1-0 and ended the visitors' hopes of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup finals.

Liberia leads Group B with 15 points from its eight matches while Nigeria is second with 13 points from seven matches. Nigeria must beat Ghana on July 28 to join African region qualifiers Tunisia, South Africa and Cameroon in the finals.

Ghana, in third place with 11 points, Sudan (9) and Sierra Leone (4) have all been eliminated.

The 45,000 capacity Accra stadium was virtually empty Sunday, reflecting the mood of disillusioned Ghanaian soccer fans.

Lineup: Nanor, Amoako, Owusu ,Gargo,Hamza Mohamed,Owusu Ansah (Ablordey,55),Yaw Owusu, E. Duah, E.Kuffour I.Boakye (I.Mohamed,70),Amoah (Taylor,80)

A 72 minute goal by George Weah,as Liberia downed Sierra Leone 1-0, effectively ended any hope of Ghana making it to the next world cup in Japana/Korea. Liberia has 15 points after their final World Cup qualifier in freetown on saturday. Ghana can only get a maximum 14 points.
Weah, the 1995 FIFA Player of the Year, entered in the 60th minute. The game was played before a capacity crowd of 35,000, including President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.
Liberia moved into first place in its group with 15 points from all eight of its games. Nigeria, second with 13 points, can qualify for the World Cup by beating Ghana on July 28. Sudan, in third place with nine points, is unlikely to qualify.

Ghana plays Sudan tomorrow in Accra.

World Cup African zone group B qualifier

 P W D L F A Pts 
 1. Liberia      8 5 0 3 10 8 15 
 2. Nigeria      7 4 1 2 12 3 13 
 3. Ghana        7 3 2 2 10 6 11 
 4. Sudan        7 3 0 4 5 10 9 
 5. Sierra Leone 7 1 1 5 2 12 4