Ghana rode on a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday to qualify for the final of the GOtv WAFU Cup final.
The home-based Ghanaian team topped Group A after Benin and Sierra Leone, the other teams in the pool, settled for a 2-2 draw at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi.
Under tournament arrangements, the top placed teams in the two groups qualify for the final slated for the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday.
The local Black Stars will know their opponents for the final today when the group B teams play their final matches.
It was a difficult game for the Ghanaians who had to battle through before grinding the seemingly unstoppable Burkinabe force to a halt.
And what a relief it was for coach Maxwell Konadu who had come under heavy criticisms for his player selection following his team’s 0-1 defeat to Benin last Saturday.
The coach this time played Hearts of Oak’s defender Nuru Sulley who worked hard with Kwabena Asiedu, Godfred Saka and Tijani Joshua to contain the strong Burkinabe attack.
The Stallions worked hard right from the start and by the 10th minute they had made two bold attempts at goal, with Martin Kalando and Kabore Issouf coming up with two great long range efforts, the first flying just wide and the second pushed away with difficulty by Ghana goalkeeper, Stephen Adams.
Closing the Burkinabe attack on the flanks, Ghana came into the picture and were rewarded for their efforts when defender Godfred Saka put his side into the lead. A free kick close to the edge of the area in the 18th minute saw the Aduana Stars right-back fire a powerful low shot past the wall, with the Burkina Faso goalie Mohamed Kabore only taking a blind notice of the ball.
Riding on the wave of home support from the sparse crowd, a zealous midfield and quick attacking play, Ghana had an opportunity in the 23rd minute to double the lead but Sulley Mohammed failed to take advantage.
But Coach Konadu’s side were not a really completely comfortable side, and the signs were clear that their opponents could score with time.
Minutes later the Burkinabes clawed back the goal from the penalty spot. Slippery Traore Abubakar Sidiki was a mouthful for Saka as he dribbled past the defender on the left side and raced into Ghana’s penalty box with the ball, but Saka ran back to whack Sidiki down for a spot kick which goalkeeper Kabore picked his spot and drilled the ball beyond the reach of his opposite number for the equaliser.
Studiously mastering the Ghana attacking play, the Burkinabe defence soaked up the early second half onslaught from Ghana but they broke down after 53 minutes when Ghana found the winning goal through Yahaya Mohammed.
Saka was fed free on the right where he flighted a cross for Mohamed to head home the goal which sent the home side into the final.
