Chicago, July 30, 2023: The introduction of Soccer tournament into the Ghanafest program last year attracted a larger audience and teams this year. The Ghana Black Stars beat the United Stars of Liberia 3-2 in a two-team duel to win last year’s maiden tournament. It was a thrilling match. The teams that joined Ghana and Liberia this year are the Green Eagles of Nigeria and the Senegalese Lions of Teranga. The players are all Chicago based, representing their countries of origin. Attendance was about 200 spectators.
The four-team tournament started a week earlier, with Ghana eliminating Senegal’s Lions of Teranga by an emphatic three goals to nil. The Liberian United Star’s sent Nigeria’s Green Eagles home with a 3-1 victory.
As a result, the stage was set for the Ghanaians to sort it out with last year’s finalists, the Lone Stars.
The Liberians started the game with revenge on their minds. They commenced on a fast note, unsettling the Black Stars throughout the first half of the match. Ghana could only manage a few breakthroughs as the Liberians piled pressure after pressure. One such breakthrough by the Ghanaians resulted in a free kick about 60 yards from goal. It led to the only goal in the 31st minute. Yaw Dolley sent a tailored kick that was skillfully reconnected beyond the reach of the United Stars goalie by Issakka Adebayo.
The second half was a mirror image of the first. The United Stars took control of the game from start to finish. The Black Stars were a shade of their dazzling form a year ago.
The man of the match, Hassan Djibril of the Black Stars, saved two-goal bound shots after his Goalkeeper was beaten entirely on both occasions.
Ghana’s Issakka Adebayo won the Goal King title, while his goalie, Daniel Asare, won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament. The skipper of the Ghana Black Stars, Yaw Amofa Peprah, lifted the coveted cup amidst jubilation by Ghanaian players and supporters.
Congratulations Ghana National Council .