Bubakari Penalty Lifts All Blacks Out of Danger Zone
Swedru All Blacks breathed new life into their Ghana Premier League survival campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC Samartex 1996 at the Swedru Sports Stadium on Sunday.
In a tense and cagey encounter, the breakthrough came in the 75th minute when defender Zayat Bubakari kept his cool from the spot, calmly dispatching the penalty to give the home side a priceless three points.
The victory marked a significant moment for newly appointed head coach Kasim Mingle Ocansey, who was taking charge of his first home game and oversaw a disciplined and determined performance from his players after a difficult run of results.
All Blacks entered the fixture without a win in their previous five outings, but showed renewed organisation at the back and greater intensity in midfield, limiting Samartex’s attacking threat for much of the afternoon.
Samartex, who had gone five matches unbeaten before the trip to Swedru, controlled possession in spells but found it difficult to penetrate a stubborn All Blacks defence. Despite pushing numbers forward late on in search of an equaliser, the Timber Giants were unable to find a way past the resolute hosts.
The result eases pressure on Swedru All Blacks as they look to steer clear of the relegation zone, while Samartex missed the opportunity to strengthen their position in the upper half of the table.
For All Blacks, it was more than just three points under their new leadership as the season heads into a crucial phase.
