A last – gap Sulley Muntari goal gave hosts Ghana 2-1 victory in Group A over Guinea in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Asamoah Gyan had put the Black Stars ahead 10 minutes into the second half by converting a penalty after Junior Agogo was brought down in the area by Oumar Kalabane.
But the Guinea defender made amends 10 minutes later when his header from a corner kick struck the crossbar and went in off keeper Richard Kingston.
Then just as it looked as though the hosts would have to settle for a share of the points up popped Muntari with a long – range left footed, angled shot to send the capacity crowd at the 40,000 Accra Sports stadium wild.
The side were all square after the first half, but it was a mystery how Ghana hadn’t scored.
Claude Le Roy’s men hit the post three times, had a goal disallowed and an adventurous overhead kick edeged wide.
Credit for the goalless scoreline should also go to Guinea keeper Kemoko Camara, who was put to grabbing Muntari’s early dangerous floating shot from the left.
Nottingham Forest’s Junior Agogo then had his head in his hands after his angled header ricocheted off the inside of the far post and away to safey.
Minutes later Gyan, allowed to play despite being sent off in Ghana’s last competitive match against Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup for diving, came up with his scissorkick which inched the wrong side of the far post.
Another shot hit the woodwork before Ghana had the ball at the back of Camara’s net but Gyan’s effort was disallowed after Seychelles’ referee Eddy Maillet caught the forward pushing the Guinean defender.
It was Muntari’s turn to test the solidity of the Guinean goal frame in the 40th minute when the Pompey man shot from the left , but again Guinea’s luck held.
Ghana finally got the goal they deserved eight minutes after the break when Kalabane brought down the charging Agogo with Maillet immediately pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Gyan to convert with a curling kick into the top left corner to send a defeaning roar into the sky above the packed stadium where Ghana president John Agyekum Kuffour was watching.
However, in the 65th minute the crowd’s celebrations were cut short when Guinea draw level.
Kalabane made up for his earlier indiscretion when heading straight at Richard Kingston in the goal, the Birmingham City stopper fumbling the ball over the line.
That left a nerve jangling final quarter of an hour for the hosts who had identified this as must – win match in their bid for a record equalling fifth title.
Le Roy brought on Andrew Ayew as a late substitute and the move almost proved inspirational, as with his first kick, the Marseille Midfielder forced Camara into a brilliant reflex save from close range
But in the end it was Muntari who saved the day , his 89th minute shot flying past the Camara to give Le Roy and the rest of the crowd the perfect result.
Match Summary
Scorers:
Ghana: Asamoah Gyan 55pen, Sulley Muntari 89
Guinea: Oumar Kalabane 65
Ghana: 22-Richard Kingson; 2-Hans Sarpei, 4-John Paintsil, 5-John Mensah ©️; 18-Eric Addo, 8-Michael Essien, 7-Laryea Kingston, 11-Sulley Muntari; 3-Asamoah Gyan (13-Baffour Gyan 85), 9-Junior Agogo, 20-Quincy Owusu Abeyie (12-Dede Ayew 76)
Guinea: 16-Kemoko Camara; 5-Dianbobo Balde, 12-Alseny Camara, 15-Oumar Kalabane, 21-Daouda Jabi; 2-Pascal Feindouno ©️, 13-Mohamed Sacko, 8-Kanfory Sylla (23-Mamadou Dioulde Bah 89), 10-Ismael Bangoura; 9-Victor Correa (14-Naby Soumah 62), 11-Souleymane Youla (19-Karamoko Cisse 62). Booked: GHA – Addo 56, Muntari 68, Kingston 90. GUI – Feindouno 47.
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)
Other AFCON fixtures on 20 January
1962 3rd Place Play-off: Tunisia 3-0 Uganda
1992 Qatar-finals: Ghana 2-1 Congo
1992 Qatar-finals: Ivory Coast 2-1 Zambia AET
1996 Group: South Africa 1-0 Angola
1996 Group: Burkina Faso 1-5 Zambia
2002 Group: South Africa 0-0 Burkina Faso
2002 Group: Cameroon 1-0 DR Congo
2002 Group: Egypt 0-1 Senegal
2006 Opening match: Egypt 3-0 Libya
2010 Group: Egypt 2-0 Benin
2010 Group: Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique
2013 Group: DR Congo 2-2 Ghana
2013 Group: Mali 1-0 Niger
2015 Group: Ivory Coast 1- l Guinea
2015 Group: Mali 1-1 Cameroon
2017 Group: Ivory Coast 2-2 DR Congo
2017 Group: Morocco 3-1 Togo
By : George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah