Accra, 1st August 1999- Ghana's Black Meteors made a poor start in the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone three soccer tournament as they drew 0-0 with the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the opening match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. The Ghanaians went all out from kick-off after the pre-match inspections led by the chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula but they wasted a first minute chance as central defender Issa Rahman header from a corner kick went off target.

The Stallions quickly re-organised their defence and with Liade Guonka, a member of their senior national team playing a leading role, they were able to keep the Ghanaian two-man striker, Joe Fameyeh and new sensation, Kwame Ali at bay. In the 15th minute goalkeeper Rachid Compaore pulled off a dramatic safe from midfielder Joe Sam's long drive. In the process, the ball dropped from his hands and Fameyeh, who was lurking around, hit the side netting from a acute angle. The Burkinabes packed their midfield and defence with only two players, Sarre Garba, another player of the senior team and Kambou Clovis, who plays for Kumasi Asante Kotoko, up front to deliver the goods but they could not break through the Meteors defence.

The Ghanaians could have netted at least thrice in the last four minutes of the first half but agile goalkeeper Compaore, who was the toast of the fans, robbed them of all the chances. Two of these chances came the way of Fameyeh. Coach Giusseppe Dossena brought on Dennis Boateng for Joe Sam at the commencement of the second half and Lawrence Aidoo came on for injured Kwame Ali in the 60th minute. Ali, who was a target of rough play, had earlier sent a powerful shot at goal in the visitors' penalty area through a cluster of legs but it was scooped from the goalline. The Burkinabes brought on Dagano Moumouni for Clovis in the 68th minute and Eklu gave way to Osei Kwame in the 73rd minute. The Meteors launched a last minute onslaught but goalkeeper Compaore thwarted all their efforts.

The second match of the day between Nigeria and Liberia was cancelled because the Liberians could not make it to Accra for the tournament. No official reason was given. The match was preceded with a cultural display by the National Dance Essemble backed by a brass-band music by the Armed Forces central band. The tournament continues with a match between Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria tomorrow, August one, at the Accra Sports Stadium The winner will represent the zone in the seventh All-Africa Games, scheduled for South Africa next September. Line-up:

Ghana: Osei Boateng, Felix Yeboah, Kofi Amoako, Sani Wahab, Issah Rahman, Edmund Copson, Hamza Mohammed, Joe Sam/Dennis Boateng, Johnson Eklu/Osei Kwame, Joe Fameyeh and Ali Kwame/Lawrence Aidoo.

Burkina Faso: Rachid Compoare, Gnonba Liabe, Moussa Ouattara, Mohamed Oaudrago, Germain Bationo, Soumaila Traore, Moussa Traore, Garba Sarre, Kambou Clovis/Moumuni Dagano, Ablasse Tonde/Ousmane Ouattara, Amadou Toure.

Fixtures for SCSA tourney changed ----------------------------------

The fixtures for the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Three elimination tournament which began in Accra on Saturday, have been changed due to the failure of Liberia to turn up. According to a spokesman for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) the Liberians who were absent at the pre-match conference on Saturday, have been ruled out of the five-nation tournament.

He said the LOC has not yet received any information from the Liberian Football Association confirming their withdrawal and reasons for their absence. According to the new fixtures released by the LOC, Nigeria, who were scheduled to play Liberia in the second match of the day, will meet Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday 1st August.

On Tuesday, 3rd August, Ghana will lock horns with Nigeria in the first match of the day while Cote d'Ivoire will sort it out with Burkina Faso in the second match.

The last two matches involving Burkina Faso and Nigeria and Ghana versus Cote d'Ivoire will be honoured on Thursday, 5th August. The winner of this Under-23 tournament qualifies for the All-Africa Games slated for South Africa in September this year.

Line-up: Ghana Osei Boateng, Felix Yeboah, Kofi Amoako, Sani Wahab, Issah Rahman, Edmund Copson, Hamza Mohammed, Joe Sam/Dennis Boateng, Johnson Eklu/Osei Kwame, Joe Fameyeh and Ali Kwame/Lawrence Aidoo.

Burkina Faso: Rachid Compoare, Gnonba Liabe, Moussa Ouattara, Mohamed Oaudrago, Germain Bationo, Soumaila Traore, Moussa Traore, Garba Sarre, Kambou Clovis/Moumuni Dagano, Ablasse Tonde/Ousmane Ouattara, Amadou Toure.

Fixtures for SCSA tourney changed The fixtures for the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Three elimination tournament which began in Accra on Saturday, have been changed due to the failure of Liberia to turn up. According to a spokesman for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) the Liberians who were absent at the pre-match conference on Saturday, have been ruled out of the five-nation tournament. He said the LOC has not yet received any information from the Liberian Football Association confirming their withdrawal and reasons for their absence. According to the new fixtures released by the LOC, Nigeria, who were scheduled to play Liberia in the second match of the day, will meet Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday 1st August.

On Tuesday, 3rd August, Ghana will lock horns with Nigeria in the first match of the day while Cote d'Ivoire will sort it out with Burkina Faso in the second match.

The last two matches involving Burkina Faso and Nigeria and Ghana versus Cote d'Ivoire will be honoured on Thursday, 5th August. The winner of this Under-23 tournament qualifies for the All-Africa Games slated for South Africa in September this year.

Standings of the SCSA tournament Standings of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa Zone three elimination tournament after the opening match played on Saturday tabulated under played won drawn lost goals for and goals against.

P W D L F A Pts Burkina 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Ghana 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Cote d'Ivoire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

(Note: Nigeria play Cote d'Ivoire today Sunday, 1st August, at the Accra Sports Stadium)