Ghanaian Duo Richard Ofori & Kwame Peprah Suffer CAF Confederations Cup Heartbreak

• Kwame Peprah and Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Ofori suffered heartbreak in the CAF Confederations Cup finals as Orlando Pirates fell short in penalty shootouts
• The South Africans narrowly missed out on replicating their 1995 continental exploits after RS Berkane edged them in penalty shootouts
• Thembinkosi Lorch's missed penalty proved costly for Pirates, who suffered yet another loss in finals of a continental competition

Richard Ofori and compatriot Kwame Peprah were on the losing side as Orlando Pirates lost on penalty shootouts to Morrocan side RS Berkane in the finals of the CAF Confederations Cup.

The Ghanaian duo played a pivotal role in ensuring the South African giants reached their first continental finals since 2013, however, their dreams of helping the Buccaneers end their 27-year continental title drought failed to materialize.

In a keenly-contested final staged at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, ended in a goalless draw in regulation time.

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Football

The 30-minutes of extra-time birthed nuance to the final as compared to the 90-minutes of regulation time with Youssef El Fahli breaking the game's deadlock after 97 minutes.

With three minutes left on the clock, Thembinkosi Lorch levelled matters to send the game to the dreaded penalty shootout.

The hero in extra-time for Orlando Pirates, Thembinkosi Lorch missed his penalty which proved costly as RS Berkane dispatched all their penalties expertly to win their second continental trophy.

How did the Ghanaian duo perform in the finals?

Ofori and Peprah were named in the starting lineup for the crucial encounter against Berkane on the back of their impressive performance throughout the competition.

Peprah, who had scored two goals before the finals, was a pale shadow of his usually vibrant self and came as no surprise when he was hurled off on the hour mark for Tshegofatso Mabasa.

While the former King Faisal forward did not have a good outing, his compatriot Richard Ofori was in inspired form repelling the attack of RS Berkane to keep his record of not conceding a goal in open play in the competition intact.

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Unfortunately for the Black Stars goalkeeper, his efforts will amount to nothing as his side lost 5-4 on penalty shootouts with Ofori scoring one of Pirates' four penalties.

Pirates fall short in Confederations Cup finals against RS Berkane

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Pirates started the fixture with real intent and vigour to impose themselves on the fixture as Mandla Ncikazi mentioned in the pre-match press conference was their tactical approach in the continental final.

Deon Hotto was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance with Pirates having six shots at goal in the opening half while restricting the 2019/20 champions to just one on target which Richard Ofori dealt with.

With the game going straight to penalties both sides were well aware going into the break that it would one mistake or one moment of brilliance to separate the two sides and the nerves were telling as the second half started more tentative than the first.