Ghana claim World Cup and Nations Cup places - 2010

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Ghana claim World Cup and Nations Cup places

09-06-2009

Ghana claim World Cup and Nations Cup places

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Ghana’s Black Stars became the first team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and Orange Africa Cup of Nations after beating the Desert Hawks of Sudan 2-0 in a Group D clash on Sunday.

A goal in each half from Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien were enough to give Ghana a 12 point lead, seven richer that Mali who are in second place with five points.

The Stars needing a win to authenticate qualification with two games remaining had a quiet first half where Muntari’s 35^th minute opener separated the two sides.

The closes Ghana came was in the fifth minutes when skipper Stephen Appiah had a header at goal, but agonizingly missed when the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back to play.

As early as the fourth minute, the visitors gave the Stars some cause to worry when a John Mensah back pass to goalkeeper Richard Kingston was cleared on the line by latter.

On 35 minutes, Muntari sent home a low shot, profiting from a goal mouth melee to send the stadium screaming.

The packjed crowd will relish another goal, and so was Appiah almost turned a half chance into a goal but missed narrowly again to end the first half.

Ghana will begin well from recess and with only sin minutes played, Chelsea’s Essien delivered a masterpiece pile-drive from a flouting ball just beneath the Sudanese goal area.

With action reduced to midfield, the Stars will relax the game, exchange passes that drew rings around their opponents, showed off their skills occasionally and Coach Rejevac Milovan pulled Appiah for Laryea Kingston.

Just when the waves were dying down, touting of horns replaced them, then cheers and clubs were to follow, the Stadium was charged beyond anything seen in recent times signaling level of excitement filling the 44,000 packed space.

Quotes

Stephen Appiah, Ghana captain

“It was not an easy game. We were under pressure to deliver and we managed to do just that. The Sudanese were a good side and not mean pushovers. It is good to know that we have qualified for the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. But there is more to do to get to the top”

Stephen Constantine, Sudan Coach

“About 18 of my players were fasting and it really affected our play. The Ghanaians appeared stronger than my players. All my players are local based and not very much exposed. Ghana has about 18 foreign-based players and the experience shone.

Our team is a young one with an average age of 23 years. We hope to win our remaining games to at least qualify for the Angola 2010 Orange Africa Cup of nations.”

RESULTS

ASEC Abidjan