GHANA’S Black Stars have a good chance of again lifting the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a victory against Uganda’s Cranes here at the Stade de Port-Gentil, Gabon last night.
Someone might say that the fight between west and east Africans was taken to another level when the 20 000-seater stadium in Port-Gentil was used by Ghana players and supporters to prove their superiority.
The two teams played to two draws, last year and in 2014, but now they are on a bigger stage and the star-studded Ghanaians came here with instructions from coach Avran Grant that they needed to win.
But don’t think the Cranes were here sight seeing, they had their moments like in the 42nd minute when Belgium-based Fukuru Miya carried his hands over the head after his shot shoved off Eazak Brimah’s goal posts.
But Ghana crowd favourite Andre Ayew, did not hit a miss when he converted a penalty 22 minutes into the game after Botswana referee, Joshua Bondo, pointed to the spot when Asamoah Gyan was fouled inside the box by Isaac Isinde.
The penalty, which produced the solitary goal, was something that came after Ghana went wild against their opponents, pinning them against the wall from the first whistle with Ayew brothers, Andrew and Jordan, being a menace to the Uganda defence.
In fact, the 1-0 Black Stars victory is not a true reflection of the game as they could have scored more than five.
But Cranes’ Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, Denis Onyango, was always on his toes.
The names that Milutin “Micho” Sredejovic would not want to hear about today are those of Gyan, Ayew brothers and Christian Atsu who went riot against his charges.
Cranes came back in the second half determined to silence the vocal Ghana fans on the stands but even Baroka FC’s Geoffrey Massa missed what looked like a clear chance to score.
Now Ghana will on Saturday meet Mali while Uganda have Egypt in Group-D’s second round matches also at Port-Gentil.
