International Career
When Ghana gave Boakye his first cap on 3 June 2001, he sent Zimbabwe into mourning by scoring an injury time winning goal to knock “the Warriors” out of qualification for 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. That late goal sent Zimbabwean sports commentator Charles Mabika crying for a long spell during live commentary on BBC Fast Track programme. This later became a subject of international discussion.
Zimbabweans had barely finished weeping when Boakye put George Weah temporarily into retirement after he scored the winner against Liberia in Monrovia. Boakye's goal in Monrovia gave the Black Stars a 2–1 win to dent Liberia's hopes of reaching the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Stones were thrown at Weah and his team-mates after the match and the Liberia star, incensed by the behaviour of the fans, announced his retirement – a decision he rescinded a few days later.
He was part of the Ghanaian 2002 African Nations Cup team, who exited in the quarter-finals after losing to Nigeria, having finished second in Group B. Coming on as a substitute, the he will be remembered for bringing his side back from the dead. Boakye came on as a second half substitute to win the game with two goals in the last 60 seconds of the 2002 African Cup of Nations game against Burkina Faso.
A delighted Boakye, who wears shirt no.13, scored in the 89th and 90th minutes of the match to put Ghana into the quarter-finals. After the game he declared: "I am happy too much and God has shown his mark today."
Boakye did his part to right Ghana’s ship with two brilliant goals in the 5–0 demolition of Somalia in the first round of 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Africa. The "Black Stars" won the tie easily 7–0 in Accra. Both matches were played in Ghana because of the security situation in Somalia.
Read more about this topic: Isaac Boakye
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