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The Black Meteors became the latest Ghanaian side to lose a game on penalties after suffering defeat in the semi-final of the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Tanko’s charges fought back twice to peg Ivory Coast at 2-2, but lost the ensuring penalty shootout 3-2, with striker Kwabena Owusu missing the crucial penalty.
READ ALSO: U-23 AFCON: Ivory Coast beat Black Meteors 3-2 on penalties to reach final
Tuesday’s penalty shootout heartbreak becomes the third straight time that Ghana has lost penalty shootout encounters against the Ivorians.
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Black Meteors coach, Ibrahim Tanko
The Black Stars also lost twice on penalties to Ivory Coast in the 1992 and 2015 AFCON finals.
However, Tanko believes Ghana’s poor record from spot kicks is down to a lack of concentration, rather than a penalty shootout curse.
“Ghana’s losses to Cote d’Ivoire have happened to three different generations and I think that shootouts are a matter of concentration,” he said, as quoted by Joy News.
“Today, my players did not have that in them. I cannot say that there is a curse on Ghana when it comes to penalty shootouts but I believe that we have to do better next time.”
Meanwhile, the Black Meteors could still book a place at next year’s Olympic Games if they win against South Africa on Saturday.