CAN 2008 UPDATE : Ghana VS Ivory Coast

Hosts Ghana came from behind to claim a consolation third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Ivory Coast in a six-goal thriller.

Sulley Muntari's swerving 25-yard free-kick gave Ghana the lead on 10 minutes before Ivorian Boubacar Sanogo hit back with a quick-fire brace.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie 's equalised after half-time with a solo effort before Junior Agogo struck on 80 minutes.

Ghana's Hamanu Draman then sealed the win with a 25-yard shot on 85 minutes.

It is the best continental campaign for Ghana since they finished as runners-up at the 1992 Nations Cup held in Senegal.

Though the game was a non-event for many, the local crowd in Kumasi turned out in numbers to see their beloved Ghana play, in what many had hoped would be the two teams contesting the final.

And they witnessed a goalscoring feast as two of the pre-tournament favourites scrapped for the consolation prize.

Another superb goal was added to the list of crackers from this year's Nations Cup after only 10 minutes.

Muntari let rip with a 25-yard free-kick that swerved round the defensive wall and into the top corner, past a helpless Tiasse Kone.

The Elephants, driven on by captain Didier Drogba, were not to be outdone though, and they were soon back in the game when Kader Keita showed great vision to play a through ball to Sanogo.

The Werder Bremen-man strode into the Black Stars' box to place his shot past Kingson from 15 yards to equalise for the Elephants.

Sanogo's effort was the 94th goal of the 2008 tournament and made the Ghana event the highest scoring in Africa Cup of Nations' history.

The game was now dominated by the men in orange and a great double save was needed from Kingson to deny Salomon Kalou, who shot from the edge of the area, and then Drogba who pounced on the rebound with 30 minutes gone.

Drogba forced another save from Kingson again seconds later, but this time there was no stopping the rebound as Sanogo stretched to direct the ball in and claim his second.

The game was wonderfully open and Sanogo was only denied his hat-trick by the Ghanaian crossbar which he rattled on 38 minutes.

Ghana started the second half keen to get back on level terms, with Draman proving a thorn in the Ivorian's side on the right flank.



But the game's pace dropped markedly from the first half with a paucity of goal-scoring opportunities.

Then with 20 minutes left to play Owusu-Abeyie picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch and sprinted past two Ivorian defenders into the area to slot home and make it 2-2.

With penalties looming, the Kumasi Stadium was alive with cheers again and bizarrely suffered an invasion of insects that choked Michael Essien amongst others.



Agogo then bagged his third of the tournament when he was played through with a clever pass from Essien to complete the simplest of finishes from 10 yards.

Draman then put the icing on the cake when he cut in from the flank and shot from twenty yards out, only for his shot to take a wicked bounce off the turf to beat the diving Kone.




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Ghana: Kingson, Sarpei, Pantsil, Mensah, Addo (Barusso 90), Annan, Essien, Muntari, Draman (Afful 89), Agogo, Baffour (Quincy 20).
Subs Not Used: Adjei, Gyan, Kingston, Asamoah, Ayew, Kumordzi, Dauda, Asare, Alhassan.

Goals: Muntari 10, Quincy 70, Agogo 80, Draman 85.

Ivory Coast: Tiassa Kone, Boka, Zoro, Fae (Dindane 83), Romaric, Tiene, Zokora, Sanogo, Kalou (Gervinho 73), Drogba, Keita (Toure Yaya 64).
Subs Not Used: Barry, Toure, Gohouri, Arouna Kone, Meite, Bakari Kone, Loboue, Djakpa, Eboue.

Goals: Sanogo 24, 32.

Ref: Jerome Damon (South Africa).

Agogo lifts Ghana past gritty Namibia

Ghana need only a draw against Morocco on Monday to guarantee their quarter-final berth at the African Nations Cup after Nottingham Forest striker Junior Agogo earned the hosts a 1-0 win over Namibia on Thursday.

Namibia's second straight loss means they will be heading off to the airport irrespective of what happens in their final Group A tie against Guinea with valuable lessons learned ahead of their bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

This was the second game of the day in Accra, the first producing something of an upset when Guinea, reduced to 10 men for much of the second half, beat Morocco 3-2.

These two results left Ghana heading Group A on six points, with Morocco and Guinea both on three with all to play for come Monday.

"We may not have played fantastically well but we've still got six points from our first two games," said Ghana coach Claude Le Roy.

"That leaves us needing only a draw to top the group.

"I knew Namibia wouldn't lose 5-1 against us like they did in their first match. They were well organised, compact in defence.

"Now we've got Morocco, we only need a draw but we'll play to win. We'll be ready for them on Monday at five o'clock."

Chelsea midifelder Michael Essien, the man of the match, added: "I think this game was much better than the first one. People were expecting us to come up with more goals, but the most important thing is the six points."

Guinea coach Arie Schans said he was proud of his players.

"This was a big difference to our first game when the players' appeared nervous.

"This time we showed we could play good football. Now our next goal with a bit of luck will be to pick up three points against Guinea."

West Ham right back John Pantsil, who was flown to Nigeria on Wednesday for a scan after suffering concussion against Guinea, was a surprise starter allowing Claude Le Roy to name the same line up for the second consecutive match.

Namibia made three changes, with Dutchman Schans switching goalkeepers after Monday's 5-1 drubbing, Abisai Shiningayamwe making way for Athiel Mbaha.

Ghana, marshalled by Essien in midfield, made clear their intent from the whistle, taking up permanent residence in the Brave Warriors' territory yet the underdogs kept them at bay for the first 30 minutes.

Given that they were 4-0 down by the break against Morocco, the goalless scoreline up to the 40th minute spoke volumes for Namibia's newfound resilience, their coach's comment that they'd played like "schoolkids" against the Moroccans had obviously hurt.

The Group A underdogs were fortunate to be let off though when Udinese striker Asamoah Gyan hit the ball over Mbaha's bar from six yards out.

And just as the solace of half time beckoned Ghana got what seemed was their inevitable reward for all their hard work when Agogo slotted home rather clumsily from near point blank range after Quincy Owusu Abeyie's cross from the right four minutes from the interval.

Shortly after the resumption Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari, responsible for the match winner over Guinea, had the Ohene Djan Stadium roaring when he unleashed one of his trademark long shots at Attiel, the ball on this occasion sailing over the crossbar.

Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingston then picked up a booking for a too hastily taken free kick meaning he'll miss the all important game on Monday, leaving his brother, Hearts midfielder Laryea, to uphold family honour against Morocco.

On the hour mark Le Roy took off Laryea Kingston, replacing him with Marseille starlet, Andre Ayew.

The second half mirrored the preceding one, with Ghana harrying the Namibian defence which again performed manfully to deny the forecast deluge of goals from Muntari and co.

Namibia weren't without their chances, their talismanic Hamburg midfielder Collin Benjamin just shooting wide of the far post in the 75th minute but Ghana weren't about to let this one get away.

Can 2008 Update : Ghana 2 Vs Guinea 1

Sulley Muntari's last-gasp wonder goal gave hosts Ghana a win in their opening Africa Cup of Nations game against Group A opponents Guinea, in Accra.

Muntari rifled a 25-yard shot into the top corner after the Black Stars hit the post three times in the first half.

Asamoah Gyan put Ghana into the lead after 54 minutes with a penalty following a foul from Oumar Kalabane.

Kalabane made amends with a headed equaliser for Guinea, before Muntari saved Ghana with his late winner.

The weight of delivering the hopes of a nation seemed to burden Ghana, who started the match in scrappy fashion.

Asamoah Gyan had the best early chance, having been played in by Muntari on six minutes before shooting wide from 15 yards.

Gyan then found himself with another opportunity within 20 seconds thanks to a poor goal-kick from Guinea goalkeeper Kemoko Camara.

The Black Stars started to settle but as the Accra crowd warmed to their sides' chances, Guinea showed they too could be dangerous with Oumar Kalabane heading over from a corner.

New-boy Quincey Owusu-Abeyie was a growing threat for Ghana, providing tricks and crosses from the left wing, as the powerful Ghanaian midfield of Michael Essien and Muntari started to pull the strings.

And it was from Owusu-Abeyie's cross that Junior Agogo smashed a header against the post on 20 minutes to crank up the pressure on the Sylli Nationale.

Despite their lack of possession Guinea still broke with purpose to worry a pensive looking Ghana defence.

But it was Essien who had the whole stadium on their feet again, when he hit the post again from a Laryea Kingston left-wing corner.

As the game approached half-time the 33 degree heat, not to mention the long grass, slowed the passing.

But Muntari then fired a half-volley thunderbolt against the upright, Ghana's third close miss of the half, after connecting with a cross from Kingston.

French coach Claude LeRoy must have said a few choice words at half-time because his Ghana side restarted with increased purpose, throwing balls forward looking the head of Gyan.

Another long-ball to the head of Gyan played in Junior Agogo who was scythed down by Kalabane as he sprinted into the box to earn the Black Stars a penalty.

Udinese's Gyan shrugged off any nerves to slam the ball into the roof of the net, sending the home crowd into riotous celebration.

Guinea coach Robert Nouzaret changed to a more attacking formation and his side rallied by creating a number of openings, to the worry of a Ghanaian defence led by an on-form Eric Addo.

The pressure paid off when Oumar Kallabane rose above two Black Star defenders to thump home a header in off the crossbar from a Pascal Feindouno corner.

The initiative was now with Guinea, as Ghana once again looked under pressure and in need of their big names players, especially Essien, to wrest back control.

The Black Stars were being limited to long-range efforts before Andre 'Dede' Ayew, the son of Ghana legend Abedi 'Pele' Ayew, replaced Owusu-Abeyie.

Ayew nearly scored with his first touch, crashing a point-blank shot at keeper Camara who saved well.

Muntari then went close with a long-range drive - in what was becoming an open, end-to-end game.

Then with the game petering out Muntari unleashed his left-foot bullet from midway in the Guinea half to resurrect the party planned by the home fans in Accra.