The Two-Time Afcon winner George Alhassan speaking in an interview with Ahotor FM recounted how the team was put under hostage by irate Libyan fans after losing the finals of the tournament to the Black Stars on March 19, 1982.
‘‘We were locked in the stadium for four hours because the Libyans wanted to beat us for winning the trophy”, he said
“We kept very long at the stadium”, he added.
“Zambia had taken the third place and the home fans mistook the Zambia team as the Black Stars and stoned their team bus, damaging it”, he recounted.
“We waited until the Police intervened for us to move to the team hotel”-George Alhassan.
Match Reports:
Ghana shot into the lead in the 35th minute through George Alhassan, the oldest player of that Black Stars squad. The Libyans sensing defeat, threw everything upfront and succeeded in finding the equalizer in the 70 minute through Beshari.
The rest of regulation time produced no more goals after 120 minutes ushering in the first ever tie breaking exercise in a final to be decided on penalties. In the shootout, Sampson Lamptey, George Alhassan, Isaac Paha, Abbrey and Asase scored, in the 1st round, while in the 2nd round of the shootout goalkeeper, Owusu Mensah saw his penalty saved by the Libyan goalie, but he also saved a 6th penalty kick by the Libyans. Owusu Mensah, again saved the Libyans 7th penalty to help Ghana win its 4th AFCON.
Ironically Owusu Mensah went to the tourney as Ghana’s third goalie, but turned out the hero of the tournament. George Alhassan who was the oldest player in the Stars team won the golden boot and hence most reporters termed the tournament “George’s African Cup”
Ghana on their way to their fourth title, drew 2-2 with the host nation, Libya who were making their debut in the competition, before tying 0-0 against Cameroon and registered a 1-0 win over Tunisia to advance from the group stage.
In the semifinal, Ghana overcame a two goal deficit to beat Algeria by 3-2 in extra time through two goals from George Alhassan (64 and 103) and a goal from Opoku Nti (90).
The triumph in Libya still remain Ghana’s last and fourth African Cup of Nations trophy as countless quest to break the drought have proven futile. Fresh on the minds of Ghanaians the Black Stars could not qualify for the 2025AFCON in Morocco.
