AFCON 2019
Guinea-Bissau 0-2 Ghana
The New Suez Stadium, Suez
Tuesday, 02-07-2019
Two second half goals is what Ghana required to ensure they reach the last 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Jordan Ayew and Thomas Party were the heroes of the day for the Black Stars who came into the game needing to better or march Benin’s results so as to move onto the next stage.
Jordan who scored Ghana’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Benin on Match-Day one, was allowed acres of space to curl home the opener a minute after the break.
The younger of the two Ayew brothers had earlier been denied by the upright after he lashed onto a Mubaraka Wakaso through ball before shooting past Jonas Mendes in the Bissau goal.
As Guinea-Bissau pressed for an equalizer, they were cut-open, allowing Party to fire in the second from close range of a Baba Rahman cut-back.
It was a game in which the minors created several opportunities, hitting the cross bar and post in not gewer than three occasions.
They should have taken the lead inside 16 minutes but Piqueti’s effort was tipped onto the bar by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
Trailling 0-1, Joseph Mendes shot from outside the area but his attempt brushed off the right-hand post and out for only a goal kick.
Moments later, the unconvincing Ofori pushed Mamadu Cande free-kick behind and the resulting corner came back off the bar.
Ghana also had chances to take a half time lead with the best seeing Owusu Kwabena head wide a Samuel Owusu cross, at the back post.
The win means Ghana, who shared spoils in their first two games, finish as group leaders with 5 points.
In the other group F game, defending champions Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by Benin.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, the Indomitable Lions came closest to scoring but Benin custodian Saturnin Allagba dived low to foil both Ambrose Oyongo and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Benin’s best chance fell to captain Stephane Sessegnon, but the former Sunderland and West Brom midfielder struck a free-kick narrowly wide.
The result means that both Cameroon and Benin progress to the next round.
Cameroon finished second, level on points with Ghana but with less goals scores as both side have a +2 goal difference.
For Benin, after drawing all their three games, they go through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
The other games on Tuesday
-Angola vs Mali @10pm
-Mauritania vs Tunisia @10pm
