Ghana through to chan quarters and libya too

Ghana secured a quarter final place in the Orange African Nations Championship with a 1-0 win over Ethiopia in the final match of group C of the Orange African Nations Championship played on Tuesday 21st January night at Free State Stadium in Mangaung. A 77th minute penalty calmly converted by Kwabena Adusei carried the Black Stars into last eight but they were far from the impressive side that drew with Libya in the last game. It was Ethiopia that showed great intend and desire to attack from first whistle but the Walyas’s Achilles remains poor finishing.

The win ensured that Ghana top group C and will remain in Mangaung to play the runners up from Group D and in a dramatic end to the other game in Group C, Libya came from behind to draw 2-2 with Congo in Polokwane and sneak in as second in the group. Libya will remain in Polokwane to play the winners of Group D. Congo Brazzaville had raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Moise Nkounkou and Hardy Binguila but the Mediterranean knights hit back through Abdelsalam Omar and then in the 93 minute Abdelrahman Fetori scored the equalizer to break Congolese hearts

Back in Mangaung a crowd of about 8000 saw Ethiopia start brightly and force six corner kicks in first half as they raided Ghanaian goal with striker Omod Omod getting the lions’ share of the chances. On 36th minute the tall player Gambela met cross from Behailu Gobeze but his header was centimeters wide of Stephen Adams’ goal. Captain Adane Gebreyes almost opened the scoring with an acrobatic back kick which nestled on the roof of the net.

Ghana was finding it hard to string passes together and was outplayed in the first half. In the second half coach Maxwell Konadu made some changes that brought some stability to the side and soon captain Jordan Opoku and Nuru Sulley were find strikers Paul Asare and Richard Mpong with through balls. From one such move Mpong raced into the box and shot at goal only to be denied by a fine save from Jemal Bushra.

Ethiopia missed the yet another opportunity to add goals to their industrious play and eventually the tired legs saw Salahadin Hussen make a rush tackle on Seidu Bansey inside the box to earn Ghana a penalty. Once Adusei converted sending Jemal the wrong way there was no way back for Ethiopia and they head back home with no goals and no ponts from there CHAN games.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) News