Sadiq Ibrahim strikes as Ghana defeats Colombia

by Siddharth Yadav October 6, 2017

6th October 2017, New Delhi: The opening game of FIFA U-17 World Cup started in a spectacular fashion as Ghana recorded a memorable 1-0 win over Colombia in the Group ‘A’ encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday evening. A goal in the 39th minute by Sadiq Ibrahim proved just enough for the Black Starlets to sink Los Cafeteros.

With more than 20000 school childrens present at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the opening game itself, the atmosphere was nothing short of electrifying. The match started off brightly with a superb end-to-end play display from both the outfits.

Colombia’s Robert Mejia attempted the first shot on target when his powerful shot from the edge of the box was easily saved by Ghana’s Custodian Danlad Ibrahim. A few minutes later, Ghana’s best performer of the night Sadiq Ibrahim fancied his luck from range when a poor pass from Colombia’s Goalkeeper Kevin Mier got intercepted by Black Starlets’ star man.

After a poor start, Colombia changed the match tempo and started to sit back in hope to launch a counter-attacking move. The first of those two almost opened the scoring for the Colombians. Leandro Campaz had a great opportunity to break the deadlock, not once, but twice. His first attempt went inches wide before he was set up again by Etilso Martinez.

But once again the attacker failed to beat Colombia’s Mier who was terrific between the sticks for the majority of the first-half. Ghana’s high intensity and free-flowing attack finally gave them the lead they deserved when a superb build-up play from Emmanuel Toku and Captain Eric Ayiah set up Sadiq Ibrahim, who comfortably tapped in from close range to send the crowd wild.

If the first-half saw a better-half of Ghana’s Sadiq Ibrahim, the second-half surely proved out to be his best one in Ghana’s colors. Quite reminiscent of the first goal’s build-up, it was Sadiq himself who set up Ayiah with a deadly ball across the goal, but the Ghanian Captain only managed to poke his effort wide.

A few moments later, Sadiq was once again denied by Colombia’s Custodian Mier before Los Cafeteros came close again to open their account. Yadir Meneses missed a glorious chance before substitute Santiago Barrero blasted his effort wide from six yards.

The Black Starlets defended for their lives in the last quarter of the game and registered a hard-fought 1-0 win to kick-off their campaign on a positive note.