REVIEW:MATCH REPORTS-GHANA VS CONGO

STADIUM: Free State Stadium-South Africa

Ghana opened their CHAN group Campaign on Monday afternoon when they came face to face with Congo at the Free State Stadium in South Africa.  A game which saw a total empty stadium but was thrilled with excellent display of Football.  An attendance which saw nothing short of disastrous.

It was Ghana who showed early incursions as they controlled the pace of the game. But their Congolese counterparts indicated how dangerous they can be as striker Obassi struck from 25 yards in the 4^th min only for the ball to go just wide.

Congo still showed how dangerous they can be as another strike from Obassi deflected for the first Corner kick of the game for Congo in the 5min. In the 10 min Congo goalkeeper  Mouyabi was called into action for the first time as he was forced to make a fine save from a Yahaya Mohammed 20yards free kick after Richard Mpong had been brought down on the edge of the penalty box.

Ghana could have been awarded a penalty kick in the 13^th min after Yahaya Mohamed took on Congolese defender Boris Mobiyo  only for him to be brought down on the edge of the box, but a Nuru Sulley rebound failed to get into the back of net following a Gofred Saka free kick. Ghana kept their pace as striker Nuru Sulley tried to catch Congolese goalkeeper on his lines but Mouyabi kept his heads up.

Sulley Mohammed  should have barried the ball in the 20^th min but his left footed shot was blocked by the  Congo defence. Ghana’s Yahaya Mohammed who had been a torn in a flesh for the Congo defence in the first 20 min had the opportunity to put Ghana in front in the 22 min but once again his shot was blocked. In the 24^th min Godfred Saka sent in a perfect low corner kick but no one could connect.

The few section of Ghanaian fans kept on Chanting the black stars to score with the Ghana o! Ghana o! songs and drums.  And it seemed the players heard the wild chants as winger Theophilous Annobah opened the scoring in the 34^th min with what would be termed a fortuitous goal after trying to take on a defender of Congo only for the ball to deflect into the back of the net of goalkeeper Mouyabi . Ghana had rewarded themselves with a hard earned goal after controlling the game in the last 34min.

Congo came close to equalize in the 38min after Nguila had his shot saved by goalkeeper Stephen Adams. A teasing corner kick by Bissiki saw Godfred Saka clearing the ball on the line with his head. Congo’s glorious opportunity came in the 41^st min after defender  Boris Mobiyo  failed to connect a rebound at his near post. After 2min of additional time, Ghana went into the break with a one goal lead. A fanatic first half. 

Ghana started the 2^nd half on a bright note after Jordan Opoku sent in a nice through ball in to Yahaya Mohammed but goalkeeper Mouyabi was kick to react in the 46^th min. Congo once again came into the lime light in the 50^th min when number 7 man Bebenney had his shot blown over the bar. In the 53^rd min Nkoulou had his shot go way wide . Congo coach  inserted his first change as he brought on Mabiala  into the midfield for Ndola to contain the pressure from the Ghanaians. Ghana still kept their dominance in the game as Joshua Tijani took on his marker only for him to be brought down. Yahaya Mohammed had his free kick timely saved by goalkeeper Mouyabi.

It seemed the change by the Congolese had been an antidote to the pressure from Ghana as Mubuila had his strikes go wide in the space of 2min. In the 60min Congo brought on Bidimbou for Bebenney to bust the attack. But Coach Maxwell Konadu reacted to that change when he also brought in Latif Mohammed for Richard Mpong in the 62^nd min. In the 66^th min Congo came close to equalize after Bissiki sent in a wonderful cross in the penalty box of Ghana but Maxwell Konadu’s defence stood their grounds.

 The Congolese gradually came into the game after they pulled in few threats. Sulley Mohammed reacted slowly in a promising counter break in the 69^th min..Maxwell Konadu brought on more attacking options when he brought on Kennedy Boateng for Sulley Mohammed in the 71^st min. Yahaya Mohammed was booked in the 76^th min for complaining after the referee had whistled for an infringement against him. Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams was forced to make a fine save in the 77^th min. Congo had the opportunity once again to draw level in the 78^th min but midfielder Akila had his header go over the bar from  a corner kick by Mubuila.

Maxwell Kunadu not taking any chances brought on midfielder Paul De-vries  Asare to tightening his midfield. With just 10 min to full time Congo threw more member in search of the equalizer as they begin to control the game. After 3min of regulation time the referee blew his full time whistle as the black stars went away with all three points.

Ghana Squad: Stephen Adams- Kwabena Adusei, Nuru Sulley, Joshua Tijani, Godfred Saka, Jackson Owusu, Jordan Opoku, Richard Mpong/Latif Mohammed, Theophilus Anoorbah/Paul Asare De-Vries, Yahaya Mohammed, Sulley Mohammed/Kennedy Boateng.

By: Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter. @Blaqqkoffi