Ghanaians left downbeat following Afcon defeat

An eerie silence descended over Ghana after the senior national football team, the Black Stars, were defeated by Cote d'Ivoire in the final of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Equatorial Guinea.

Even in the midst of an ongoing power crisis, millions of football fans stayed glued to their television sets to watch the live telecast of the crucial encounter Sunday which was a repeat of the 1992 finals in Dakar, Senegal, reported Xinhua.

Many had belief in the team that it will avenge the painful defeat to Cote d'Ivoire in 1992.

But that could not materialize as the Black Stars were beaten 8-9 on penalties by Cote d'Ivoire, who lifted their second AFCON trophy after 23-years.

The look of dejection and disappointment was written all over the faces of the fans and it will take a long time to for the wounds to heal.

"I am disappointed that we couldn't win the cup. But it's a fight well fought," said Yaw Amakye, a fan who looked dejected moments after Ghana shot-stopper Razak Braimah missed the final kick to hand victory to the Elephants.

"Better luck next time...so close, yet so far away," Andrew Kagya, a 22-year-old fan said.

Others believe the team did do well and that the dream of annexing an Afcon trophy after a long wait is still alive.

"Their target was to do well and by all standards they've done well, haven't they?" retorted Agnes Boasiako, a bar attendant in the Port City of Tema.

And for Ghana coach Avram Grant, it was a disappointing way to lose after a good run of form.

"I feel painful to lose like this," Ghana coach Avram Grant said after the game in Bata.

"I feel proud of what the boys did. This is football. And things like this can happen. We were the better side but in penalties, anything can happen."

Despite their loss, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Afriyie Acquah and Kwesi Appiah bowed out with some individual awards.

Atsu was named the tournament's most valuable player and was also awarded for scoring the best goal of the competition following his great strike against Guinea during the group stages.

Ayew bowed out with the highest scoring prize after scoring three goals in the competition.

Acquah was named the best player of the final game and Appiah bagged the fair-player prize for the competition.