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Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia
Mubarak Wakaso’s first-half goal was enough to secure all three points for the Black Stars in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.#CitiSports #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/coiFaqOXCp
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
Jordan Ayew leads a one-man counter for the Black Stars. Eventually, Yaw Yeboah sprints down the left and receives the ball from Jordan but he’s shoved to the ground.
Despite the appeals for a penalty, the game continues. 3 minutes to play
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
7 minutes to play in this game.
The Black Stars don’t look in any danger of conceding but they really don’t look like scoring another as well. And with a one-goal lead, you can’t be too comfortable.
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia#CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
69 mins:
The second half is devolving into a session of attack vrs defence. The Stars seem to be doing everything right except putting the ball into the net.
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia#CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
Wakaso goal
Did you miss Mubarak Wakaso’s goal? You can watch it here.
54 mins:
Daniel Amartey went off the pitch with an injury but he seems to be fine and returns to Ghana’s backline.
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia#CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
Half-Time
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia
Mubarak Wakaso’s long-range effort gives the Black Stars a deserved lead at the break. C.K Akonnor’s side have lost Jeff Schlupp to injury but have barely been troubled by the visitors. #CitiSports #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/QXAdwY9IBy
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
42 mins played:
How good has Jordan Ayew been tonight?
He goes on a brilliant run, beating defender after defender. He eventually finds himself in the box and goes down but the referee waves the penalty appeals away
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
Wakaso took aim from a long way out and fired a shot which squirmed through Ethiopia goalkeeper Abubeker Nassir’s arms and goes in. Shocking from the goalkeeper but Ghanaians won’t care.
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia#CitiSports #BlackStars https://t.co/PYwnlvJguZ
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
GOAL!
Mubarak Wakaso!
Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
32 mins played:
Daniel Kyereh comes on for the injured Jeff Schlupp.
The Black Stars struggling to settle down after the breaks in play. The Ethiopians have hardly posed a threat. A cross-cum-shot ends up in the hands of keeper Richard Ofori
Ghana 0-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
23 mins played:
Andre Ayew picks up the ball, holds off a defender and shoots but his effort is blocked.
Crystal Palace’s Jeff Schlupp then pulls up with a suspected hamstring injury.
Ghana 0-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
20 mins played:
Impressive work from Kamaldeen Sulemana to win back the ball. The ball ends up with Baba Rahman whose cross into the box is nudged towards goal by Jordan Ayew but it’s blocked and cleared.
Ghana 0-0 Ethiopia #CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
12 minutes played:
Some lovely play on the left from Jordan Ayew as he creates space for a cross but Andre Ayew can’t direct it towards goal.
Ghana 0-0 Ethiopia
#CitiSports #BlackStars— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
8 minutes played.
No major chances so far. Jordan Ayew wins a free-kick for the Black Stars but Mubarak Wakaso’s cross is poor and goes out of play #CitiSports #BlackStars
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
Kick-Off
.@Fentuo_, @nathan_quao and @ChristopherNim8 predict a 2-0 win for Ghana against Ethiopia.
What are your predictions?#CitiSports #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/Pelvhi6c6o
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 3, 2021
There will be live coverage of the game on Citi FM from 18:30 GMT with Daniel Koranteng and Christopher Nimley on commentary.
Ghana almost always wins
The Black Stars have played Ethiopia four times losing only once. The only time Ethiopia claimed victory was a 2-0 win in a friendly back in 1996.
Since then Ghana has enjoyed 5-0 and 2-0 wins over the Ethiopians.
Strong Lineup
Black Stars head coach, C.K Akonnor has named a very strong side for the game.
Crystal Palace forward, Jordan Ayew leads the line with new Rennes signing Kamaldeen Sulemana also named in the starting lineup.
There are also starts for Andre Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Daniel Amartey and Baba Rahman.
‘GHS50 is too expensive!’
It hasn’t been all rosy for fans hoping to watch the Black Stars in action, however.
Complaints over the regular ticket price of GH₵50 were numerous with many people agitated as they had earlier been informed that the ticket would cost GH₵20.
“We came here to support the team, we have travelled from far only to be told it’s GH₵50.00 for a ticket when it was initially communicated to us that it was GH₵20.00. This is not fair,” one fan told Citi Sports.
“Cape Coast is not like Accra, things are hard here. We live under duress and we were expecting prices of tickets to be led than what we are being told today. So how do they expect us to pay and watch the game?” another added.
Fans make their way to Cape Coast Stadium
Fans began to arrive at the Cape Coast Stadium hours before the match.
With the GFA getting permission from CAF to allow 2,250 fans into the stadium from the game, home supporters were eager to secure their seats well ahead of time.
Vendors were also taking advantage of the hype to make some quick sales of paraphernalia outside the ground.
‘It’s time for us to go back’
Black Stars head coach C.K Akonnor says his team is focused on qualifying for the Qatar World Cup, particularly after missing out on the tournament in Russia back in 2018.
“We know all the teams. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia will do their bit to get there [Qatar]. But we will put in hard work and we know that hard work pays.”
“The last [World Cup] we went to was in Brazil. We didn’t qualify for the last one. And we are hoping and believing that this is the time for us to be back there.”
‘We’re focused’
Black Stars captain, Andre Ayew says the players are well aware of the expectations Ghanaian have of them ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
“We’re totally focused on the task ahead of us. We want to start this World Cup qualification really well at home, so we’re ready, we’re well prepared,” Ayew said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“Now is the time to go and do the job. We know that it’s six games, but this is the first one and we want to start with a great victory in front of our fans.”
Black Stars begin World Cup journey
The Black Stars will be hoping to make a return to the big stage next year at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. First, they’ll need to qualify from their group.
Their first opponents, Ethiopia, travel to the Cape Coast Stadium tonight hoping to cause an upset but most Ghanaian fans are confident that the Black Stars will kick off their campaign with three points.