Black Stars Fail To Shine Against Benin

Ghana failed to win their opening Group F game against Benin at the ongoing 2019 Afcon tourney at the Ismailia Stadium Egypt last Monday night, drawing two all with their West African neighbours.

The Squirrels of Benin went ahead early in the 2nd minute of the game, through their dangerman Mickael Pote, but in their 7th minute, Ghana drew level through skipper Dede Ayew by an assist from his brother Jordan Ayew. The game settled after the initial hot exchanges.

Ghana took the lead through Jordan Ayew, who latched onto a long pass from Kassim Nuhu Adams made a beautiful turn dummying his marker before planting the ball into the roof of the Beninoise net for Ghana’s second goal of the night. It was no surprise as Jordan Ayew was adjudged the best player on the night.

After recess, the Black Stars took control of the game making in roads into their opponent’s goal area, but the complexion of the game altered when Ghana were reduced to 10 men, after defender John Boye received the marching orders for what the official deemed to be time wasting on his part. Boye had earlier been booked hence when a second yellow card was flashed at him, the obvious was a red card.

Ghana helmsman Akwasi Appiah had no option but to introduce a defender for one of his outfields, thus bringing on defender Jonathan Mensah for midfielder Samuel Owusu, who also substituted Thomas Agyapong.

As the pressure piled on the Stars, they succumbed late in the second half as they failed to defend a corner, which saw their opponents equalizing through Pote, who scored from close range.

Though the Stars made attempts to secure a win, they were also cautious due to their numerical disadvantage.

John Boye’s red card in the 54th minute is the first for a Black Stars player in 7 years since Jonathan Mensah was sent off in the 66th minute in January 2012 at the 28th edition of the Afcon hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Again, this is the second time the Ayew brothers have both scored in game. They scored on 29th January 2017 when Ghana defeated DR Congo by 2 goals to nil at the 2017 Afcon hosted by Gabon.

Ghana’s next group game a crunch duel against defending champions, Cameroon on Saturday evening.