On a day where everything was at stake for the Black Stars of Ghana, they lived up to the billing as they beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in Suez.
The victory takes Ghana through to the Round of 16 of the expanded AFCON while the Bissau-Guineans will look back on this AFCON and feel proud about the point they gained after their draw against Benin.
The 4-time champions will now face Tunisia at the Ismailia Stadium on Monday, June 8, 2019; a match the Ghanaians fancy their chances in.
With the group games done, here is a look at the winners and losers of the Black Stars game against the Djurtus.
WINNER: Baba Rahman.
Before the game, the Chelsea loanee missed the group opener against Mali and then started against Cameroon before pulling off an amazing performance last night as Ghana needed a win to qualify.
The left-back laid a carefully calculated pass to the moving Jordan Ayew on the left flank before the striker picked it up and converted the half chance into a perfect goal.
Baba Rahman latched onto a reverse pass from skipper Dede Ayew in the 18-yard-box before drifting in a low cross to Thomas Partey who only had to tap in and finish off some brilliant gameplay from Ghana.
Even before the two assists, the Reims player looked threatening, he kept on putting in crosses from the left flank looking for the forwards to finish them off.
He will be looking at reproducing his performance against the North Africans in the round of 16.
WINNER: RICHARD OFORI.
The Maritzburg United goalkeeper kept the Black Stars alive in the game so many times.
Ghana’s first keeper started the game well parrying a thunderbolt from Piquetti onto the bar in the early stages of the game.
The South Africa based goalkeeper once again saved the blushes of the team after lapses in defence after punching away a well-placed free kick from Mama Cande.
His singular performance if isolated is note-worthy and praiseworthy as well, as Ghana were able to put in a much better offensive performance as they had a solid pair of hands to rely on in goal. And going on into the next stage of the competition, he will definitely be relied on a lot more.
WINNER: JORDAN AYEW.
The 27-year-old has been Ghana’s main man in the group phase of the AFCON scoring two amazing goals for the team.
He is as well in the mix for the tournament’s top goal scorer award with his two goals in three games.
He struck the right post in the first half after capitalizing on a timely laid pass and defensively poor making but saw his shot hit the post after beating Mendes.
He was not to be denied in the second half as he pounced on a beautifully laid pass from Baba Rahman before taking on the defender from Guinea Bissau and then finding the back of the net this time around.
The Crystal Palace striker will be looking forward to banging in more goals as the tournament progresses and hopefully finish as the top scorer.
LOSERS: GUINEA BISSAU DEFENSE
Guinea Bissau are not a very good side, sure and no one really expected them to beat Ghana but the football neutrals for the love of excitement in football would have preferred the Wild Dogs to stun their West African contingents.
Not to be too hard on the Bissau-Guineans, but their performance on a night where frustrating the Ghanaians was needed the most, they were flat and unimpressive.
The first goal a typical example why they have struggled a lot in the tournament. Allowing so much room for Jordan to taken on a defender and then smashing in the opener.
The Djurtus had a chance to qualify, provided they beat the Black Stars but poor defending let them leak in two goals.
LOSER: KWABENA OWUSU.
The Leganes on loan forward failed to impress as he did in the game before.
He did not look confident enough as he was substituted after an hour of football as Afriyie Acquah was introduced to help solidify the team.
The 22-year-old will be looking forward to getting more minutes as the tournament grows and will be eager to take his chances when some do come by.
