Ghana booked their place in the 2015 final of the Africa Cup of Nations by beating the hosts, Equatorial Guinea, 3 - 0 in a game that was marred by unfortunate crowd troubles, which caused a 30-minute stoppage in play.
The Black Stars showed composure, patience and quality throughout the game highlighting the gulf in quality between themselves and the hosts. Equatorial Guinea looked off the pace and lacking in the cultured footballing knowledge their Ghanaian opponents carried throughout the contest. Equatorial Guinea were in fact unable to muster a shot on target on Ghana's goal. Ghana outshot the hosts 15 - 4.
Ghana have now not allowed one shot on target against them in their two knockout stage games. Guinea in the Q-F were the other opponent that failed to register a shot on target against Ghana.
Going into the second Semi-Final of the tournament, there was a lingering question as to whether or not Equatorial Guinea could continue their fantastic Cinderella-story into the final in front of the adoring home crowd. However, Ghana quickly frustrated Equatorial Guinea and therefore the home crowd throughout the first-half. Some of the Equatorial Guinea players' reactions to refereeing decisions visibly vented the collective frustration felt by the home fans. In truth, much of the frustration owed its origins to the gulf in class between the two sides.
While it took Ghana over 40 minutes to break the deadlock, they effectively killed the game as a contest when they did so (CAN Orange video). In the 40th minute, Christian Atsu threaded a through-ball through to Kwesi Appiah who was clumsily brought down by the ill-timed (and ill-judged) charge by the Equatoguinean goalkeeper. Jordan Ayew dispatched the spot-kick with aplomb. Mubarak Wakaso added Ghana's second in first-half stoppage-time as Ghana hit Equatorial Guinea on the counter-attack from a corner-kick the hosts wasted. To repeat a complaint my dad always has of corner-kicks: "you've got to get it past the first defender". Equatorial did not, and they paid the penalty.
André Ayew had a chance on 54 minutes to put Ghana 3 - 0 up but did not get enough contact with his header, Kwesi Appiah also had a chance to make it 3 - 0 when he was put through 1-on-1 minutes later but could not finish either. Then - alas,- in the 75th minute Kwesi Appiah was again put 1-on-1 with the Equatoguinean goalkeeper - who again foolishly charged out from his line - and Appiah showed all the calmness needed to pass square to André Ayew who showed his composure by finishing at the far-post from just outside the six-yard box.
Trouble later ensued with the crowd but in truth Ghana were never really in any trouble or doubt. I am bloody looking forward to the final.
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