Ghana fail to qualify for 2016 CHAN
Ghana missed out on a ticket to next year’s Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) tournament slated for Rwanda after the local Black Stars lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the return leg of their last qualifying tie last Friday. They crashed out on the away goal’s rule.
The Stars went into the return leg in Abidjan with a 2-1 advantage but paid for allowing their Ivorian opponents to score in the first leg in Kumasi, as Maxwell Konadu’s charges exited the qualifying competition after a 2-2 aggregate which saw the Elephants advance to the final tonourmant on the away goal’s rule.
It is the first time Ghana would be missing out in the competition after losing out in the grand finale to DR Congo in the maiden edition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.
The Stars exited at the group stages in their second appearance but were denied the trophy by Libya during a nail-biting penalty shootout in the final of the last competition in South Africa.
Coach Konadu’s side went into last Friday’s game determined to grab the only slot for the competition, but Ivorian Davy Koffi Boua broke the hearts of Ghanaian with his 35th minute strike to end the first half of the game.
The Stars return to the game after recess with determination to cancel the lead but were unable to find the target until the game ended at the Robert Champroux de Marcory Stadium in Abidjan.
Ghana, runners up in the last competition, and the defending champions, Libya, will both missed out of the competition next year.