Goals from Majeed Waris and Kwadwo Asamoah helped Ghana to a 2-1 win over Zambia, sealing the Black Stars’ qualification to the next round of Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying. Queues were abnormally long by half past 10, security as tight as ever. Inside the stadium, anxious fans sat, waiting; even though it would be close to six hours before kickoff. The Zambians, who had had the stadium closed to them due to their lateness to the 16:00 hours scheduled training session, had also failed to turn up for the rescheduled session for 08:00 in the morning. Another twist to a drama-laden pre-match build-up. The match commissioner, Nicholas Musonye from Kenya, in a short interview with Kumasi-based Metro FM, was cautious. He was fully aware of the convention that it is unethical for him to speak to the media on the day of the game, but managed to squeeze in the the statement that the Zambians’ inability to turn up for training “is their own problem” and that “the match will still come off.” Other than that all he said was the common refrain “no comment.” Th stadium filled up gradually, with black market ticket merchants having a filled day outside. By 14:00 GMT, two hours to kick off, the stadium was 95% filled to capacity. All this, on a Friday; a working day. The people of Kumasi were out to make a statement. The Zambians arrived at 14:15 GMT, 15 minutes before the designated time of arrival on the Match Day Programme. They took a casual stroll on the pitch, some taking pictures jovially, some staring seriously at the well manicured green grass. By this time, the stadium was all but full, fans booing the Chipolopolo. Accra-based radio station Asempa FM’s Kofi Asare Brako (popularly known as ‘Abatey’), the charismatic Master of Ceremonies for the day, was on the tartan tracks. Microphone in hand, he tried to galvanize fans to sing and chant. The fans responded. The stadium was charged. Both teams cam out to train at the same time; Ghana in one half, the Zambians in another. Ghana cheered, the Zambians jeered. Returnees Kevin Prince Boateng, Andre Ayew and Michael Essien received warm welcomes too. First Boateng, who came out to greet the fans in his casual wear, knowing he would miss the match due to an injury. Then there was Dede Ayew, who seemed to be the last to come out, pausing by the touchline to offer a word of prayer, then jogging unto the pitch, waving his fans. The last? Not quite. Essien decided to seize that berth, emerging last with teammate Agyemang Badu. Fans couldn’t control themselves. Kevin Prince Boateng would surprise everyone by running around the pitch in a well-planned lap of honour with a Ghanaian flag in hand, a gesture to prove he’s back for good and feeling patriotic. The Kumasi fans – notoriously known for being anti-Boateng – let their guards down and met him with wild applause. It seemed he had finally been forgiven. Ghana had definitely seized the feel-good factor ahead of kickoff. It helped too. Ghana looked the better side in the opening exchanges. Majeed Waris was the liveliest of the bunch, hitting two powerful shots over. He would be third time lucky in the 18th minute, heading home John Boye’s last ditch volleyed cross (ball had almost crossed the goal line). The goal was Waris’ second goal in two games for Ghana this year; all at the Baba Yara Stadium. Apart from the 21-year-old Waris, Mubarak Wakaso also looked very sharp, with some incisive passes and shots. The Zambians tested Goal keeper Fatau Dauda on four occasions, but generally looked vapid in the final third. Their passing looked harmless, as they hesitated on the ball. Veteran Joseph Musonda was wheeled off injured close to the end of the half, replaced by Emmanuel Mbola. The Zambians began the second half determined, knowing it could probably be their last 45 minutes in the qualifiers. They had nothing to lose. Emmanuel Mayuka looked the more dangerous of the sea of orange shirts, causing problems for Ghana’s defence. Meanwhile, Kwadwo Asamoah looked very quiet in his attacking midfield role. Asamoah Gyan also looked off too – he had to shake off an injury ahead of kick off. The skipper’s dimness seemed to be influencing the Stars’ play. Dede Ayew was lively for brief periods with some runs, on one occasion cutting in and shooting wide. Coach Appiah brought on Christian Atsu for Mubarak Wakaso, and the big one, Michael Essien for Rabiu Mohammed. Essien was as expected, given a warm reception. Then it happened. Out of nowhere. Kwadwo Asamoah, the quiet guy, burst into life – the game following suit subsequently – with a ferocious hit from 25 yards which beat a diving Kennedy Mwene. The stadium erupted. Kwasi Appiah looked relieved on the bench. Satisfied, maybe. He even took off his traffic warden-like lemon vest he had weirdly worn on his sleek white shirt. The job was half done. The pressure had waned. He could now afford to relax. Ghana went into beast mode after the goal. Fans in loud voices, motivating beautiful passes and a dominant play. Atsu tested Mwene after cutting in from the left. Mwene was tested twice from the resultant corner too. The game gradually opened up, Ghana disintegrating the Zambian defence with ease. The Zambians would test Dauda feebly in between, but Ghana remained dominant, Essien putting in a solid display. Until Nathan Sinkala lashed in a cut back from a corner, fairly against the run of play. Dauda stood no chance as the ball beat him to the low right corner of his goal. The Zambians didn’t celebrate. They couldn’t afford to. Even scoring another goal would mean Ghana qualification. They needed two more goals. Herve Renard introduced James Chamanga in, on for Davies Nkausu. Chamanga could barely place a pass, he seemed lost, just like his captain Christopher Katongo. Katongo. He was incredibly lost in the game, something especially worrying for the Zambians after he had promised to “fight like a soldier.” His failure to turn up, at the end of ninety minutes and with the benefit of hindsight, looked like a microcosm of his side’s performance on the day. Ghana marched on. At the end of 90 minutes, Kumasi came alive with excitement. Job done. Ghana XI: F Dauda, D. Opare, H Afful, J Boye, Jona Mensah, M. Rabiu (Michael Essien 53′), A. Ayew, K. Asamoah, M. Waris, A. Gyan [c] (Agyemang Badu 79′), M Wakaso (Christian Atsu 54′). Zambia XI: Mweene, J. Musonda (Emmanuel Mbola 45′), D. Nkausu (James Chamnga 74′), H. Himonde (Fwayo Tembo 46′), S. Sunzu, Sinkala, Mtonga, C. Lungu, R. Kalaba, C. Katongo [c], E. Mayuka
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 09:52:49 +0000
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