The head coach of Cote d’Ivoire, Bassiriki Diabate, has attributed his team’s 5-1 defeat to Ghana’s Black Starlets in the opening game of the 2024 WAFU B U17 Nations Cup to the crowd at the University of Ghana Stadium.
Laryea Kingston’s Black Starlets got off to a flying start with a thrilling win in front of home crowd.
Joseph Narbi bagged a brace to give the Starlets a 2-0 first half lead. Godfred Sarpong made it three for Ghana just after the break before Côte d’Ivoire pulled one back.
However, Harve Gbafa restored the Starlets’ three goal lead with 15 minutes to go before Mark Kagawa Mensah sealed the game in stoppage time.
Speaking after the game, Bassiriki Diabate attributed his team’s defeat to the crowd and pressure.
“I can say that my boys did not play the way they are known to be playing. I can say that maybe it is because of the crowd that was in the stadium and pressure.”