Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Owusu Mensah, has revealed that the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy presentation to Ghana was conducted at a hotel, deviating from the traditional on-pitch ceremony.
According to Mensah, this change was necessitated after threats by some Libyan fans, allegedly planned to attack the Black Stars team for defeating their country in the finals to clinch the title.
Ghana triumphed in the AFCON after overcoming Libya, the host nation, in a penalty shootout.
Recounting the trophy presentation, Owusu Mensah stated that some players were physically assaulted on the pitch following the match.
“Normally, it is done at the top [of the stadium]; you will climb up when it’s time to receive the cup. We were attacked, so we couldn’t go for it. What I am saying has never happened before; you can ask the players who were there,” Owusu Mensah said on the Ernest Bruce Smith Show on YouTube.
“Ask George Alhassan, Opoku Nti, Haruna Yusif; it has never happened before. The presentation of medals and the trophy did not occur after finishing the game; it didn’t happen. We were assaulted by the Libyans, so we had to run away,” he added.
JNA/NOQ