Head of Public Relations and Strategy at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Neil Armstrong Mortagbe, has expressed disappointment following the Black Starlets’ failure to secure automatic qualification to the next stage of the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Ghana revived their campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over South Africa in their final Group C match on Wednesday after a difficult start to the tournament.
Despite the win, the Black Starlets missed out on progression after an extraordinary tie-breaking scenario with Algeria.
Both teams finished level on points, goal difference, and head-to-head record, forcing tournament officials to resort to the drawing of lots in accordance with competition regulations.
Algeria emerged successfully from the process, advancing to the quarterfinals and sealing qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Mortagbe acknowledged the disappointment but stressed that the tie-breaking procedure had been clearly outlined to all participating nations before the tournament.
“This drawing lots was known to all the participating nations before the tournament,” Mortagbe said.
“If there is a tie, there is a way that the tie would be broken…and if it is that the competition rules we use the drawing of lots to break that kind of tie, we use that. It’s unfortunate that it had to be that,” he added.
Although automatic qualification slipped away, Ghana still have a chance to book a place at the World Cup. Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his side will face Uganda in a playoff match on Saturday, with a place at the tournament in Qatar later this year at stake.
