Ghana beat Guinea 2-0
Ghana Black Stars B played a determined game yesterday to beat their Guinean counterparts, Syli Nationale 2-0 to advance to the next stage of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) tournament at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
Two second half goals by Stephen Sarfo and substitute Kwame Kizito in the 47th and 78th minutes respectively was a strong statement by the Ghanaian side who started the competition with an unimpressive 1-0 victory over the Gambia last Saturday.
Yesterday’s game saw an improved Ghana side stamping their dominance in a fast-paced exchanges as they took the game to their opponents and gave early indication of their intentions to carry the day, with Thomas Abbey wasting a scoring opportunity in the fourth minute after weaving through the Guinean defence.
The Guineans occasionally threatened the Ghana defence with Camara Abdoule Naby also coming close to scoring.
In the 39th minute, Ghana nearly went up when Elmina Sharks striker, Felix Addo, dribbled past his Guinean markers but his shot at goal missed the target ending in a scoreless half.
However, three minutes after recess, Ghana’s positive approach was rewarded with the opening goal when Addo whipped in a cross from the right which Sarfo connected home to send the fans into frenzy.
Buoyed by the opener, the Ghanaians probed in search of additional goals to consolidate their lead but were met with strong defending by the Guineans who found it difficult creating spaces in Ghana’s backline.
In the 72nd minute, Coach Maxwell Konadu played his first card by pulling off Felix Addo for Patrick Razak to strengthen his midfield and the pacey Hearts player added more firepower to Ghana’s attack, especially with the introduction two minutes later of his Hearts of Oak teammate Kwame Kizito as replacement for Sarfo.
With fresh limbs, Razak and Kizito combined effectively to keep the heat on the Guineans and also whet the spectators’ appetite for more goals. In one of sub moves, Razak headed a right wing cross back into the path of Kizito who connected home a header to double the lead for Ghana.
Not ready to give up the fight, Guinea searched for a consolation goal and nearly had it in the 84th minute when Seydouba Camara‘s well-taken 30-metre free kick struck the crossbar and bounced away from danger with Ghana’s goalie, Joseph Addo clearly beaten.
Ghana play Mali in a Group A encounter tomorrow in Cape Coast.
