20 November 2014 10:56
Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has made the Black Stars’ clearest intent at winning the Africa Cup of Nations title yet after leading the team to book qualification to the next edition of the tournament scheduled Equatorial Guinea next year.
Badu, who captained the Black Stars in their ultimate qualifier which they won 3-1 over Togo in Tamale on Wednesday, in the absence of injured skipper, Asamoah Gyan says the former champions are ready for the challenge ahead.
He told Cafonline.com “this is a very good result for us. We needed to respond after losing in Kampala against Uganda last weekend, and we did just that today.
“We played wonderfully well every step on the way and deserve this win. It was a way of announcing our readiness for the competition and alert everyone that we will come fighting for the ultimate” the Italy-based midfielder remarked after the ultimate Group E clash against neighbours Togo.
Ghana clinched top place in Group E after comfortably scoring two first half goals and a further one in the second half to defeat the visitors.
The midfielder added “today, we played and excelled as a team in every way. We conceded a goal through a set piece very early in the second half but we did not allow that to turn our focus.
“We are getting there as a good team. Without most of our influential players, it was going to be tough but we did fine as a unit. We pray that the injured players get healed soon so we can together plot an onslaught on the title.”
Abdul Majeed Waris sent Ghana ahead in the 24th minute when he darted to head home a cross tossed in by Celtic’s Mubarak Wakaso to send the stadium agog.
The Black Stars, needing a win to authenticate their place at the finals gained confidence after the goal, and moments on, Wakaso who provided for the first goal turned the scorer, unleashing a 35-yard rocket as he raced from the middle to let fly one into the top right corner to double Ghana’s advantage.
Togo pulled one back through Jonathan Ayite early in the second half before Badu put the icing on the cake with the third midway.
Guinea beat Uganda 2-0 in the other Group E clash in Casablanca to qualify alongside the Black Stars for next year’s event from the group.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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