AFCON:Ghana

 Ghana first game of the tournament was against Botswana who was making they tournament debut in the African Cup of Nation. The Black Stars didn’t have the best of starts to the tournament, where they looked to be relaxed in the first 20 minutes of the game. However Ghana enjoyed much of the possession but The Zebras immediately showed that they were not there to be overrun. The Ghanaians kept up the pressure after going ahead in the 25th minute a goal coming from the team captain John Mensah, but Botswana quickly rediscovered their composure to repulse attacks from Asamoah Gyan and Jordan Ayew.

Asamoah Gyan who had thigh strain ahead of the tournament didn’t look too comfortable on the ball and one could see that he wasn’t match fit against Botswana

The Black Stars ended the game with ten men when goal scorer and captain John Mensah crude tackle on Jerome Ramatlhakwane to preventing Botswana from equalising. Ghana hold on with ten men to get a victory against a spirited Botswana team.

 Ghana’s second match against Mali was a very tense and physical game, which saw few attempts on goal in the first half. Both teams started off with a great deal of respect to each other. In the first half the game was full of fouls and close marking as the two West African countries looked determined to outdo each other.

Second half saw a more attacking Ghana side which saw star man Asamoah Gyan opened the scoring for the Black Stars with a beautifully struck free-kick from just outside the area.  This was Gyan first goal in this year’s African Cup of Nation. Mali responded imminently and should’ve got an equalised through striker Modibo Maiga saw his header afford over the bar and didn’t find the target. Ghana replied with an attack of they, which saw a great play between Asamoah Gyan and Andre Dede Ayew creating a goal scoring opportunity. Wonderful back-flicked in the box from Gyan to finding Ayew who cool slotted the ball into the of the Mali’s goal pos.

On the final group stages game against Guinea, the Ghanaians just need to point to go through and early goal from Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu settled things for Ghana.  Guinea started putting the Black Stars under pressure, but unable to create any clear early opportunities. The Black Stars looked to be going into the break with a one nil lead, but Guinea got their equaliser and put themselves briefly back in contention, with a goal from nowhere, right on the half-time whistle. A Brilliant chip from    Abdoul Camara outside the box it sail right over Ghana goalkeeper Adambathia Kwarasey and went in the net to put the sides level at the interval.

Guinea pushed for a second to make sure that they stay in the tournament, but Ghana closed the game out very well and retaining most of the possession.

A draw wasn’t enough for Guinea to stay in the tournament because on the other game Mali won they game against Botswana 2-1 which saw them move second on the long behind Ghana who finished as group winners.

Playing in the quarterfinal against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia was one of the toughest challenges that the team faced in the AFCON. The Black Stars has a nervy 120-minute against Tunisia game that ended 2-1 in favour of an extremely exhausted Ghana side. Tunisia was pushing Ghana all the way, with Tunisia striker Sader Khalifa coursing problems in the Ghana defence.

The game started on a slow pass with both sides taking their time to settle into the match. Despite the lack of tempo, Ghana was first off the mark when John Mensah netted from a corner taken by Emmanuel Badu’s in the 10^th minutes of the game.

Tunisia struggled to find their feet in the game early on, however Tunisia kept pushing for an equalizer. A wonderful cross by   Zouhaier Dhaouadi into the Ghana box found Saber Khalifa at the back post who headed in decisively past the diving Adam Kwarasey in the Ghana goal.

An extra- time mistake from the Tunisia keeper, who had an excellent night in goal for Tunisia, dropped the ball horribly from a harmless cross to the far post from Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, right in front of Ayew, who tapped in gratefully.

Tunisia who kept on going throughout  the night and they  didn’t have any reply after that mistake and find the going very tough. Things got worse for them when Aymen Abdennour elbow Andre Ayew which saw him get a red card and Tunisia had to play with ten men for the rest of the game. The Black Stars held firm for a win and booked third successive semi-final in a row encounter with Zambia.

Ghana were clear favourite going into this game Zambia but An 80th minute strike from Emmanuel Mayuka was enough for Zambia to knockout African Cup of Nation favourites Ghana.

Early in the game Ghana were given a lifeline in form of a penalty when Davies Nkausu took down Kwadwo Asamoah in the 7th minute.

However Kennedy Mweene had other ideas when produced a diving save to deny Asamoah Gyan’s unconvincing effort and keep the game scoreless.

The Ghana players didn’t put they heads down and continued to take the initiative to make up for their missed opportunity.

Jordan Ayew was in fine form for the Ghanaians, who asserted a higher attacking rhythm in the first half, but the Chipolopolo were content to absorb pressure and launch counterattacks, one of which was close to perfection.

Despite all the Black Stars’ pressure, couldn’t find a goal and they were made to pay for their wastefulness when Zambia took the lead in the 80th minute thanks to a wonderful curled effort from substitute Emmanuel Mayuka.

This was the first time Zambia have reached final since 1994 and Chipolopolo have never won the African Cup of Nation before. For Ghana it was another missed chance to reach the final and try to win the tournament for the fifth time.   

The Black Stars had impressive players in the tournament who could’ve lead them into the final. Captain and star defender John Mensah was very impressive at the back. John Mensah scored two important goals in his last two games.

Ghana has been extremely impressive at the back only considering three goals in they last games (Including the semi- final game). Lack of fire power in front wasn’t there for the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan was seeing as the player who will be scoring the goals for them but he only managed to score one goal and also missed a important penalty for Ghana in the semi final against Zambia. Before the tournament Gyan was out with a thigh strain and he was in doubt for the tournament. The Ghana took a gamble on including him in the final 23 man squid and a gamble that backfired for him. Asamoah Gyan was not near to the best form that everybody knows him to be in.

Even though had an attacking formation throughout the tournament didn’t help the strikers up front, Ghana scored six goals and only one comes from a striker. Missed opportunities up front was the downfall for the Ghana team which has a lot of talent in the middle of the park that was creating goal scoring opportunities for them.

With no doubt the star player of the team has been Olympique Marseille winger Andre Dede Ayew. The son of football legend Abedi Pele has been an inspiration to the Black Stars in this year’s tournament.

A lot was expected from the youngster who has contributed a lot in the Ghana team. In Angola 2010 Andre Ayew was one of the standout players that preformed and gave his all for the Ghana team. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012 Andre Ayew hasn’t let Ghanaians followers down where he has made good passes and creating a lot of goal scoring opportunities for his team-mates.

The partnership in the middle of the park with Kwadwo Asamoah was very instrument to the team, which saw them reaching the semi finals of the tournament. Andre Ayew didn’t only create goals but he also putted them at the back of the net, which is why he has been the key player for Ghana.