Coach Kwasi Appiah was left grasping at straws after he led Ghana to a disappointing round of 16 finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
For a trainer backed with all resources and tasked with ending the country’s 37-year Nations Cup trophy drought, Appiah’s Black Stars failed to give any signs of achieving the target from start, leaving the team’s followers to continue to hope the team would find its rhythm.
But time was not on their side as Ghana were stopped in their tracks by the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia Monday night courtesy a penalty shootout defeat.
The Black Stars felt hard done by in the first half when skipper Andre Ayew found the back of the net with a back-heel effort but the goal was chopped off.
South African referee Victor Gomes indicated a non-existent handball in the build-up as his reason for disallowing the goal after his assistant’s flag went up.
“If VAR was in use, automatically, Ayew’s goal would have stood. We all know the benefits that technology has brought to football.
“It’s my suggestion that moving forward, Caf would implement right from the onset, instead of waiting till the quarterfinals. I’m not saying this because it will benefit only one team. If it is implemented, it benefits everybody,” Kwasi Appiah shared at post-match.
RIGHT CALL, WRONG REASON
Television replays did not appear to support referee Gomes’ decision of handball, but VAR would probably have ruled Partey offside moments before the ball went the way of his skipper Ayew, as per the picture below:
Ghana now have to begin preparations to qualify for the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon in order to have another go at ending what will be a 39-year trophy drought.
