The Black Stars of Ghana were held to 1-1 draw by the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Cape Coast Stadium in the last Group E game of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Egyptian’s Shikabala scored in the 61st minute from a cracking drive from inside the box before Norway-based Edwin Gyasi levelled three minutes laterfor Ghana.
Kwesi Appiah’s men fought gallantly in midfield with Wakaso Mubarak, Godfred Donsah and Ebenezer Ofori routing things in the middle.Abdul Razak scored from a cracking drive from inside the box before Norway-based Edwin Gyasi levelled for Ghana.
However there were question marks on Daniel Amartey and captain Harrison Afful who both committed unpardonable mistakes.
Amartey was over confident in his station as he was robbed off the ball by opposition men who fed the ball to Mohamed Elneny but the Premier League defender was lucky as the ball was contained and dealt with by partner Nuhu.
Elneny himself showed great strength to overpower Harrison Afful and bomb forward with the pace and vision of a peregrine falcon. It took the specialty of Richard Ofori to ward off the danger.
Ghana’s bright moments were few with the closest with a head-on-frontal collision with Pharaohs keeper Elkramy.
Belgium-based Nana Opoku Ampomah operating from the right was less fleeting but the few moment he burst forward he was dangerous. His crony on the other side of the flanks loved to cut in to deep midfield and operate from the middle, meaning little supply from the wings for arrowhead Dwamena.
With his flunkies scarce with supplies the FC Zurich forward alternated between the wings with hopes of dinking with a trademark bent in but there was nothing to show for the opening half.
Kwesi Appiah was forced to tinker with the side even before the break as Ampomah picked an injury from a clash and had to be replaced. Patrick Twumasi took his place.
The second half presented little promise for the Stars as the game swung between the sides.
Donsah was taken off for Majeed Waris and Ghana began to show venom in attack.
Egypt got the opener in a moment the Ghana side were caught ball-watching as Moamour struck the opener.
Ghana’s response was swift but it arrived via a dint of luck as Edwin Gyasi’s drive deflected against the opposition for goal.
The Stars switched between low and deep pressing but that was fine with Hector Copper and his charges as they contained and curtailed any attack from the Ghanaians.
A couple chances fell to Twumasi, Waris and Yiadom but they failed to convert.
However, Kasim Nuhu prevailed in the defence with the ex Real Mallorca man excelling at the back.
Boakye came close to snatching the winner for Ghana but Elkramy pulled a great stop to deny Ghana the winner.
Ghana XI vs Egypt: R Ofori – H Afful, L Agbenyenu, D Amartey, K Nuhu – M Wakaso, E Ofori, G Donsah, E Gyasi, N Ampomah – Raphael Dwamena.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
