Ghana needed a second half strike from striker Joseph Esso to record a slim 1-0 win over Gambia in the 2019 WAFU Championship opener on Tuesday.
The Black Stars ‘B’ side put up an entertaining first of dominance football but failed to put the ball at the back of the net despite hitting the bar twice.
The game ended barren after after half time.
Back from recess, the Ghanaian team mounted pressure on the Gambia and finally got the lead through Accra Hearts of Oak striker Joseph Esso who beautifully slotted in Imoro Ibrahim’s superb cross with his left foot.
Moments after Joseph Esso had broken the deadlock for the Black Stars, Coach Maxwell Konadu brought on Asante Kotoko forward Augustine Okrah to replace midfielder Appiah McCarthy before center-back Issaka Mohammed made way for Habib Mohammed.
The introduction of Agustine Okrah gave Ghana more space to attack as they mounted more pressure on the Gambian team.
Gambia nearly pulled parity in the 75th minute but thanks to Ghana goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi who made an excellent save to deny Ceesay’s shot from entering the net.
Justice Blay of Asante Kotoko fame had to be introduced into the game by Maxwell Konadu to replace injured Benjamin Afutu.
Two minutes later, the Gambian were awarded a penalty after defender Mohammed Alhassan had fouled his marker. Cham elected himself to kick the ball but unfortunately saw his kick hit the right side of the posts.
Gambia, piled incessant pressure on Ghana in the closing stanza of the game but Maxwell Konadu’s side defended so well to prevent any goal from entering the net as Ghana again beat the side they defeated two years ago in Ghana.
Ghana stating XI against Gambia
Eric Ofori Antwi (GK), Fatawu Mohammed, Moro Ibrahim, Issaka Mohammed, Mohammed Alhassan, Benjamin Afutu, James Akaminko, Appiah McCarthy, Abudul Latif Anabila, Joseph Esso, Shafiu Mumuni.
Substitutes
Isaac Hagan, Felix Annan, Patrick Yeboah, Habib Mohammed, Justice Blay, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Augustine Okrah, Richard Arthur, Prince Opoku Agyemang, Ali Ouattara.
