[ 2015-05-25 ]

Ghana cheated in Olympics qualifier - Le Roy
Congo Brazzaville coach Claude le Roy accused
Ghana of fielding over-age footballers this
weekend in a 1-0 Rio Olympic Games qualifying
victory.

The famed French handler told an Accra media
conference he had coached some of the Ghanaians
and they did not meet the competition requirement
of being born on or after January 1 1993.

"This is not fair," barked Le Roy. "Congo play by
the rules and Ghana do not.

"I coached some of these Ghanaians seven years ago
for an African Nations Championship (CHAN)
qualifier against Niger.

"They are not under-23 footballers," insisted the
67-year-old coach who is seeking a first
appearance at the Olympic Games next year in
Brazil.

Neither Ghana coach Malik Jabir nor officials
immediately responded to the allegations.

Le Roy ranks among the most successful foreign
coaches to have worked in Africa, winning gold,
silver and bronze Africa Cup of Nations medals.

He also guided Cameroon at the 1998 World Cup,
leaving the Olympics as his main unfulfilled goal
entering the twilight of a near-50-year football
career.

Ghana won the first leg of a second-round tie
through a goal just before half-time by Enoch
Ebo.

The winger from English third-tier strugglers Port
Vale latched on to a Sadiq Alhassan pass and
struck the ball wide of goalkeeper Christoffer
Mafoumbi.

Congo had a late second-half let-off when Black
Meteors substitute Dauda Mohammed rattled the
woodwork at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana have competed at the Olympics six times and
became the first football medalists from Africa by
coming third at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The countries clash again next weekend in Congo
and the overall winners secure a third-round date
with Nigeria.

Uganda look set to advance after winning 2-1 in
Rwanda through goals from Faruku Miya and
substitute Muzamiru Mutyaba.

Miya converted an early free-kick and Dominique
Nshuti levelled just past the hour before Mutyaba
punished sloppy defending at Stade Amahoro in
Kigali.

Zambia are also well placed to progress having
held Botswana 1-1 in Lobatse south of Gaborone.

Jackson Chirwa gave the visitors an early lead
that was cancelled by Unotshaba Mbaiwa midway
through the second half.

Botswana fired coach Keitumetse Paul -- mastermind
of a shock first-round win over Kenya -- 48 hours
before facing Zambia after he complained about
losing five players to the senior national squad.

Tunisia left it late to edge Sudan 1-0 at Stade
Olympique in Rades with Slimen Kchok scoring a
minute from time.

And Adama Niane converted an 87th-minute penalty
to salvage a 1-1 for Mali away to Mauritania.

After three qualifying rounds, seven survivors
join Senegal in a November 28-December 12
tournament and the top three finishers will
represent Africa in Rio.

Source - AP

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