Black Stars Final Game Against C.A.R Will Determine Their AFCON Faith in September

The senior national team the Black Stars can only qualify to next year’s Africa cup of nations if they draw or win against the Central African Republic in the last final Afcon game to be played in Ghana in September, 2023.

Ghana’s goalless drawn game against Madagascar yesterday has thrown Group E’ wide open with Angola, Central African Republic and Ghana all having equal chance of qualification to January’s Nations Cup in Ivory Coast.

Barea of Madagascar put up a spirited performance to hold Black Stars to a 0-0 drawn game at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo on Sunday afternoon.

Historically, Ghana has made it to every AFCON tournament after missing out on the 2004 Nations Cup held in Tunisia. Unfortunately, Ghana is at risk of not qualifying if they fail to secure a good result against a stubborn Central African Republic side who defeated Madagascar at their own backyard some few months back.

The poor performance of Black Stars in yesterday’s match saw the team pull loww numbers statistically with only two shots on target and five corner kicks in a game Madagascar sat back more often with intermittent counter breaks.

Coach Chris Hughton brought on Ernest Nuamah, Mohamed Kudus and Osman Bukari for Kamaldeen Suliemana, Jordan Ayew and Joseph Paintsil in the second half of the game, but that did not make a difference to secure the requisite result Ghana wanted.

In the other group E’ game, the Palancas Negras of Angola defeated Central African Republic 2-1 at the Stade de la Réunification in Douala. However,only two countries can qualify out of the group to the Nations Cup.

Ghana now lead the group with 9 points followed by Angola with 8 points and Central African Republic accumulating 7 points with Madagascar languishing at the bottom of the table with only 2 points.

Kyei Manu

I’m a Practicing Media Personnel /Freelance Journalist. The Editor/Blogger of this portal, with interest in Sports, Environmental and other Social issues that affects society.
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