The timely intervention of Mr E.K. Afranie, the immediate care-taker coach of the Black Stars on Saturday averted what would have been an abrupt end in the final soccer match between the University of Ghana (UG) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the Zone 'E' elimination of the 11th West African University Games at the Paa Joe stadium in Kumasi.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Sadique of KNUST kicked Dominic Oduro of UG in the stomach in the penalty box in the 58th minute and referee Osei Nsiah awarded a spot kick against KNUST.

However, this did not go down well with KNUST fans who besieged the field and temporarily held up play for almost 15 minutes and it took the intervention of coach Afranie, who was a special guest, to plead with the aggrieved KNUST fans to allow the penalty to be taken.

When they finally agreed, Frank Abbey scored to give UG the lead but KNUST equalised also through a penalty converted by Edward Nkansah in the 73rd minute to ensure the qualification of the two universities to the main games to be held in Burkina Faso in December, this year.

In the other disciplines, KNUST and UG qualified in the men and women's basketball whilst University of Benin and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) also qualified in the men and women's handball.

University of Benin and University of Cape Coast (UCC) qualified in the men's volleyball while UCC and University of Development Studies (UDS) qualified in the women's handball.

In the table tennis, University of Benin qualified in the men's doubles and singles while UG qualified in the women's singles, mixed doubles and the women's doubles.

In lawn tennis, even though Vigirkin Rodrique and Casimir Agbotah of University of Benin qualified in the men's doubles, they have to await the decision of the jury of appeal following a protest lodged against their eligibility by UG.

KNUST and UG qualified in the mixed doubles while UG qualified in the women's singles and UEW and KNUST also qualified in the women's doubles.

In a closing speech read on his behalf, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended the students for exhibiting a high sense of discipline throughout the games and urged them to always engage in healthy competitions.