20-MIN BLACKOUT AT ESSIPON (Back Page)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi

The Essipon Stadium experienced a 20-minute blackout yesterday, forcing a late kick-off to the second group B match between Mali and Benin Republic.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was inspecting the two teams when the lights went off, necessitating the ceremony to be suspended.
Minutes later the panic lights started to blink, guiding fans in the stands, but it took a little while for the floodlight to beam.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) had assured the public it would rely on generators rather than hydro electric power due to its unreliability. However, it failed to keep its word.
About a month ago when the Baba Yara Stadium was being inaugurated, the entire stadium went dead, compelling the LOC to allow premier league matches to be played at the stadium then on to test the reliability of the lighting system.
But that would only be known today when defending champions, Egypt, take on Cameroun while The Sudan face Zambia.
A similar incident happened during the final of the African Under-17 football championship between host Togo and Nigeria at the Kegue Stadium in Lome, Togo, and in Nigeria in 2000 when that country co-hosted the Nations Cup with Ghana.
• The match in Sekondi ended one goal to nil in favour of Mali. Frederick Kanoute scored the lone goal through a second half penalty.