The BlackStars of Ghana played out a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cameroon in their second Group F game at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Richard Ofori saved superbly in the first half to deny Cameroon a goal and Kwabena Owusu hit the cross bar late on for Ghana in a game players like Thomas Partey and Kwadwo Asamoah would have wished never happened.
Kassim Nuhu missed two glorious chances in the space of 2 minutes. First, he sliced Mubarak Wakaso’s corner wide before sending another shot wildly over the bar after being teed up by center back partner Jonathan Mensah.
On 15 minutes, Christian Atsu’s night ended even before it could begin. After cutting inside to fire a carpet shot inches wide, he went down with a muscle problem and was replaced by Samuel Owusu, who, just like in the first game against Benin, got thrown into the action much earlier than when he himself would have anticipated.
Cameroon has set up to play on the counter and every time they went forward, they caused Ghana problems. On one of those occasions Jonathan Mensah’s last ditch tackle was needed to clear the danger.
Minutes later, Baba Rahman have the ball away in his own half, Cameroon streamed forward in numbers and Christian Bassagog found himself free in the box and fired for the top corner. But Richard Ofori saved superbly and Ghana went into the break lucky to not be behind.
Back from the break, Wakaso’s shot wide from long range and Kassim Nuhu’s yellow card for elbowing his opponent were the significant highlights of the first 20 minutes of the second half as Ghana struggled to create chances.
Kwesi Appiah brought on Asamoah Gyan for Kwadwo Asamoah to try and force the occasion.
Kwabena Owusu made instant impact when he came on for captain Andre Ayew, stealing possession before weaving his way through to unleash a fiery strike that skidded off the top of Andre Onana’s cross bar.
That was to be the last notable action of a disappointing display from Kwesi Appiah’s men who have failed to win a game in their opening 2 games.
They will now need to beat Guinea Bissau on Tuesday to stand a chance of qualifying to the round of 16.
