While missing out was disappointing, it was the manner that it happened that was heartbreaking as the penalty miss was the second in succession to cost the Meteors in this competition, having lost the semi-finals last Tuesday, 2-3 to Cote d’Ivoire and thus failed to automatically pick one of the three slots.

The loss in the third place game, the final chance to grab an Olympic ticket, means the Meteors will again miss the Olympics, since their last appearance at the 2004 Games.

Comeback

Coach Ibrahim Tanko’s charges had displayed a remarkable comeback spirit when they twice fought from a goal down to draw 2-2 in regulation, only for Edward Sarpong to let his teammates down when his crucial penalty could have won the day for Ghana.

South Africa had gone 4-4 during the penalty kicks and Sarpong needed to convert to save the Black Meteors’ dream of playing in the next competition, but skied his effort to the dismay of his teammates and the Ghanaian fans at the Cairo International Stadium.

After a more tensed opening half, it was Ghana who started the game on a good note and looked like the side likely to open the scoreline, but they could not make their pressure on the South Africans count.

Soon the tables turned and against the run of play, the South Africans got the opener when an innocuous cross by Makgalwa Keletso ricocheted off the heels of Mohammed Habib to beat Micheal Agbekpornu who had moved off his line.

After the goal, the South Africans exposed the frailty in the Black Meteors’ defence as they relied on the flanks to launch their attacks, but the Ghana defence was mostly caught napping, leaving goalkeeper Kwame Baah to save the situation.

The Meteors resumed for the second half with some urgency, Evans Mensah effectively using the right flanks to the advantage of his side.

That paid off as five minutes into that half, Mensah equalised with a 20-yard volley after he had been set up by Kwabena Owusu.

South Africa Coach David Notoane introduced Mahlatsi Kamehelo in the 60th minute and two minutes later, the University of Pretoria student restored the lead after he had exchanged passes with Foster Lyle before he whipped from close range to beat goalkeeper Baah.

Samuel Obeng also cancelled the lead in the 85th minute when Mensah had burst from the flanks to walk through the South Africa defence and located Obeng who slot it past the goalkeeper to send the game into penalties.

Penalties

While Emmanuel Lomotey, Evans Mensah, Issah Abass, Samuel Obeng and Zakaria Fuseini converted for Ghana, Kingsley Fobi, Edward Sarpong and Emmanuel Cudjoe missed to hand the victory to the South Africans who themselves missed two of their eight kicks.