Abuja 2003: Meteors Beat Zambia For Bronze

Abuja, Nigeria, Oct 15 - GNA - Ghana came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Zambia and subsequently win the bronze medal at the Eighth All Africa Games through a penalty shoot out, in a match played at the UJ Usuene Sports Stadium in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The Zambians took the lead in the first half when Newa Mwelwa piped a pass to Sipho Numbi in the heart of the Ghanaian defence to beat George Owu in the Ghanaian goal with a grounder that zoomed into the net near the right upright.

Ghana fought back and got rewarded with the equaliser when Yahuza Abubakar connected home from the box.

Coah Ralph Zumdick gave Richard Ladzekpo his first cap when he brought him on for Issah Gabriel in the 40th minute. Once again it was Zambia, who recaptured the leadership in the second half when substitute Collins Mbesuma hit within the nylon threads to receive fisted commendation from his bench and hugs from his colleagues.

The Zambians hanged on to their advantage till the dying minutes of the match, which had a five-minute extension for playing time lost. With less than a minute to end the added time, teenage striker Shaibu Yakubu controlled a knee high shot in the Zambian half with his right and turned swiftly to rifle a left footer past Kalililo Kakonje in the Zambian goal to push the match into the penalty shoot-out stage.

Black Meteors won the shoot-out 4-2. Ghana's goalkeeper Owu saved two of the Zambian penalty kicks