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After being behind for much of the game, Gabon managed to equalize in the last minutes against Ghana (1-1). The Panthers missed the opportunity to clinch their ticket to the round of 16, but they can rejoice in this good result.
Back to the wall after a first defeat, Ghana thought they had done the hardest part against Gabon, Friday, January 14, after opening the scoring from the start of the match. But the Blacks Stars were overtaken in the very last moments of the match (1-1) and had to settle for a draw.
It is the Gabonese Panthers who start the match with better intentions. In the 5th minute, the defender Ecuele Manga offers himself a first opportunity: on a set piece, he recovers the ball on the right side in the Ghanaian area and tries his luck, but his shot is blocked.
Under pressure, Ghana seems unable to deploy its game. But little by little, the players of Milovan Rajevac resurface. They were dangerous for the first time in the 15th minute on a tense cross from Jordan Ayew, which forced Gabonese goalkeeper Amomone to relax to push the ball away. But it was his brother André who found the fault three minutes later. Served with his back to goal, the former Marseillais unleashed a magnificent shot from the far left full axis which ended in the opposing goal (18th, 1-0).
After a complicated start, Ghana then took control of the match. The Gabonese accuse the blow and then suffer the meeting, if not a distant free kick taken directly by Bouanga in the gloves of the Ghanaian goalkeeper Wollacott (43e).
Insufficient Gabonese efforts
When they return from the locker room, the Gabonese return with better intentions. From the first minute of the second half, Ghanaian defender Djiku was forced to head off an excellent cross at the far post. In the 59th, the Panthers are then close to equalizing: served in the area, Allevinah barely misses the ball against the Ghanaian goalkeeper.
On a good offensive sequence, the Gabonese grow. Three minutes later, Obiang shot at the edge of the box, but his shot was headed back by Baba. Kanga imitates him just after with a long shot which passes just next to the Ghanaian goal.
The Black Stars are getting few chances. In the 79th minute, André Ayew however obtained a good free kick. Pulled by his brother Jordan, he grazes the left corner of the Gabonese goal. The Ghanaians then control the game and try to buy time, but they get caught in their own trap. At the very end of the match, Allevinah, served at the entrance to the area, equalized with a magnificent shot from the left (88th, 1-1).
A sign of the Black Stars’ extreme frustration, a fight broke out at the final whistle. Ghanaian Tetteh receives a red card for punching an opposing player.
While in this group C, Morocco is already qualified for the round of 16, everything will be decided for the other teams during the 3rd day. Gabon will face Morocco, while Comoros will face Ghana.
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