In what the Guinean coach, Becker Esteban, referred to as a David versus Goliath encounter, Ghana beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in the second semi final match yesterday at the Banapa stadium in Malabo to clinch the second and last
ticket for the final of the 2015 edition of the prestigious tournament. Both sides were equal in strength in the first half as the battle was concentrated at the midfield with both teams mounting their last defense line almost in the middle of the field. It was a match of enthusiasm versus experience as the Nzalang Nacional looked agitated thereby committing many errors whereas the Black Stars looked calm and were more accurate in their passes.
The breakthrough came however just before the half time mark at the 40th minute as Kwesi Appiah was fouled in a one on one duel by goalkeeper Ovono Ovono to obtain a penalty. The penalty was neatly converted by Jordan Ayew. Five minutes later, Ghana was up on the score board again this time through Wakasu Moubarak who hammered in a cross from Atsu Christian to finish a counter attack in grand style. From then, the mood went soar in the stadium as the Guinean fans started throwing objects into the stadium. Upon the third goal from Andre Ayew at the 74th, some Guinean fans started leaving stadium. Others attacked the Ghanaian fans a halt in the match as the Ghanaian drifted towards to athletic track to avoid dropping objects from the hostile Guinea fans. Despite the heavy police presence, the crowd couldn’t be brought under control.
Upon resumption of play after about forty minutes, the stadium looked deserted as only a handful of spectators could be seen in the stadium. The zeal was no longer there on the part of the players either as the intensity had died down. Ghana though demonstrating tactical superiority did not show the zeal to attack like before the expected break. Barely two minutes into play, the referee blasted the final whistle. Ghana will therefore face Côte d’Ivoire in the final on Sunday while Equatorial Guinea will lock horns with the Democratic Republic of Congo for the third placed team on Saturday.
