Ghana one step closer to the final

Ghana officially sealed their place in the final eight of the African Cup of the Nations after a 1-1 draw against 10-man Guinea saw them top group D.

The Black Stars, who only needed the one point to progress to the quarter-finals, took the lead in the 28th minute at Stade de Franceville through a screaming long-range volley by Emmanuel Agyemang Badu. (A definite must-see goal and potential goal of the tournament)

Although Guinea levelled on the stroke of half-time through a fortuitous strike from Abdoul Camara, they could not find the extra goal they needed to see them through to the next round as the finished third in the group, with Mali taking second spot and Botswana fourth.

Ghana made two changes ahead of this game with Isaac Vorsah making his comeback to the squad after serving suspension and Samual Inkoom replaced Sulley Muntari. John Mensah made it onto the bench also after returning from suspension. Guinea named an unchanged side from the team who thrashed Botswana 6-1 at the weekend.

Guinea made the best start to the game and within minutes of the match starting Ghana’s discipline was put in the spotlight once again when Alhassan Masahadu picked up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Ibrahima Traore. Just nine minutes into the game Guinea had a penalty shout when Traore made a great run into the box and tripped of John Paintsil’s outstretched leg but the referee waved away the decision.

Guinea did have the ball in the back of the net on 27 minutes but Traore was judged to be offside then just a minute later Ghana had opened up the scoring through their first shot of the game when Emmanuel Agyemang Badu coolly collected the ball on the edge of the area before flicking the ball up with his left foot and smashing it into the top corner with his right foot. Definitely a contender for goal of the tournament.

This didn’t faze Guinea who continued to pile on the pressure earning a series of corners to put Ghana keeper Adam Kwarasey under pressure but luckily he was putting in a more assured performance then he did in the Black Star’s last game.

Guinea almost handed Ghana a second on 43 minutes when confusion between the backline and goalkeeper Naby Yattara allowed Asamoah Gyan through on goal before passing to Inkoom who chipped the ball just wide of the goal. Andrew Ayew then had a shot saved at the near post. However just as Ghana were planning on going in at half-time ahead Guinea puller themselves back into the game with a goal that literally came from nowhere. It started when Abdoul Razzagui Camara ran down the right flank before chipping the ball right over Kwarasey and found itself in the net. Perhaps a fluke but still it was something to give Guinea extra confidence going in at the break.

HALF-TIME: Ghana 1-1 Guinea

The confidence was showing as the game got underway again as yet another string of corners was ended by a shot from Traore was blasted high over the bar. Although Guinea’s task was made more difficult on 70 minutes when Mamadou Dioulde Bah picked up his second yellow card of the match for a trip on Kwadwo Asamoah which saw him taking an early bath.

Regardless of having a man deficit Guinea continued to press but Ghana resorted to what they do best; holding procession as the Black Stars seemed to be more than happy to walk away from the game with a draw. Despite desperate efforts from Guinea right up until the final minute Ghana continued to defend well so 1-1 the match finished and Guinea cruelly departed the competition.

FULL-TIME: Ghana 1-1 Guinea

Ghana will now play Tunisia in the quarter-finals on Sunday (null/02/2012)

Ghana: Adam Kwarasey, John Paintsil (capt), Alhassan Masahadu, Isaac Vorsah, John Boye  Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Samuel Inkoom.

Guinea: Naby Yattara, Thierno Bah, Dianbodo Balde, Kamil Zayatte (capt), Ibrahima Diallo, Sadio Diallo, Mamadou Dioulde Bah, Pascal Feindouno, Abdoul Razzagui Camara, Ismael Bangoura, Ibrahima Traore.