Black Stars close to World Cup berth

The Black Stars ruled supreme in the battle at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday, edging into the final stage of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 victory over the Chipolopolo in their last Africa Group D tie.
But the Stars had to sweat to overcome the prowling Chipolopolo who appeared not ready to surrender as they attacked ferociously in the second half.

An opportunistic goal from Abdul Majid Warris and a sumptuous Kwadwo Asamoah strike in either half ensured the Ghanaians took a two-goal lead before Zambia struck one back through Nathan Sinkala.

An end-on-end game full of tension, the result sent Kumasi into wild jubilation while the crestfallen Zambians walked off the field with their heads down.

But their tough-talking coach, Herve Renard, insisted it was a shame they lost the game which they put in their best.

However, Ghana’s coach Kwasi Appiah, maintained his side deserved the victory, having worked hard for it.

A good part of the pre-match build-up in the Ghana team had been on the three returnee players, Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andre Dede Ayew.

Coach Appiah started Ayew in the game, while Essien came on from the bench, with Boateng sitting out due to injury.

With cheers from a partisan crowd that filled every space in the 41,000-capacity stadium, Ghana launched into business right from kick-off but it was the Chipolopolo who wasted a freekick near the area in the first minute.

Ayew responded for the Black Stars, running through the middle to head into the hands of goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene in the fourth minute.

The battle lines were drawn and the Black Stars, playing the 4-4-2 formation, tried to cut in from the flanks where Ayew and Mubarak Wakaso operated.

Zambia planted Stopilla Sunzu and Lungu Chisamba at the left and right backs and they worked strongly to draw the Ghanaians back from the wings.

Even as a lot of action took place in the middle, Ghana showed more power upfront with Warris and Asamoah Gyan coming close on the eighth and 12th minutes respectively.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute when Warris, the Spartak Moscow striker, picked his spot in the Zambia area to apply his head to a John Boye’s right side cross, beating a helpless Mweene in post.

The stadium roared and Ghana could have doubled the lead six minutes later but after Harrison Afful had fed Warris in the box, he scuffed the ball over.

Determined to claw back the goal, skipper Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka came running at the Ghana backline and in the 25th minute when they created panic in the Ghana area it appeared they were in line for a goal but the defence stood firm.

Making two changes, bringing on Tembo Fwayo for Musonda in the 45th minute and Mbola for Humonde just before the restart, the Zambians were prepared to switch into attack.

The Black Stars were struggling to match the Chipolopolo in the middle and Akwasi Appiah made two straight changes in the 54th minute with Essien coming on for Rabiu and Atsu replacing Wakaso.

Some fluidity was introduced into the Ghana game in midfield as Essien controlled and passed well to keep Ghana in search for a goal even as the Zambians worked hard to contain the pressure.

Nonetheless, the Chipolopolo could not stop the Stars from registering the second goal in the 61st minute when Juventus star, Kwadwo Asamoah, popped up to meet a pass in the middle and from 30 yards out, he released a blistering drive, the ball whistling past the diving Mweene.

At a point when all thought the Black Stars could go for another goal, a compact Zambia displaying skills and style, came in strongly and reduced the deficit through Tembo in the 71st minute.

Appiah effected his last substitution, taking out skipper Gyan and bringing on Agyemang Badu, but it was the Zambians who probed strongly for the equaliser that never came.

Ghana: Fatau Dauda, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Mohammed Rabiu/ Michael Essien, Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, Asamoah Gyan/ Agyemang Badu, Abdul Majeed Warris, Mubarak Wakaso/ Christian Atsu

Zambia: Mweene, Lungu, Humonde/Mbola, Nkausu/Chamsa, Sunzu, Katongo, Kalaba, Musonda/Tembo, Mtonga, Sinkala, Mayuka.

By Kwame Asare Boadu/Daily Graphic/Ghana