By Nana Kwame Bediako
In a thrilling opening match of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ghana’s beach soccer team, the Black Sharks, faced a tough challenge against host nation Egypt as they were defeated 6:3.
The match, held on the sun-drenched sands of Egypt, saw the home team take an early lead, setting the tone for a high-energy encounter. Egypt’s ability to capitalize on their home advantage was evident as they broke the deadlock in the first period, leaving the Black Sharks trailing with a score of 1-0.
As the game progressed into the second period, Egypt continued to assert their dominance, extending their lead with two more goals. Despite the mounting pressure, Ghana’s Alexander Adjei provided a glimmer of hope for the Black Sharks by netting a crucial goal, making the score 3-1. However, Egypt quickly responded, finding the net once again to maintain their commanding position at 4-1. The Egyptian team showcased their skill and coordination, adding another goal to their tally before the end of the period.
In the final period, the Black Sharks fought valiantly to narrow the gap. Alexander Adjei emerged as a standout player for Ghana, scoring his second goal of the match. Yet, Egypt’s relentless attack proved too formidable, as they managed to score again, bringing the score to 6-2. Adjei’s determination shone through as he completed his hat-trick, adding a third goal for Ghana, but it was not enough to overturn Egypt’s lead.
The match concluded with Egypt securing a 6-3 victory over Ghana, marking a strong start to their AFCON campaign. The Black Sharks, despite their defeat, demonstrated resilience and flashes of brilliance, particularly through Adjei’s impressive performance. As the tournament progresses, Ghana will look to regroup and build on their strengths, aiming to make a comeback in their upcoming matches.