Wakaso shines for Ghana

Ghanaian midfielder Mubarak Wakaso

Mubarak Wakaso was the hero of the day as Ghana picked a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.

The 85th minute effort proved the difference at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

With the Amavubi seeing the back of the Black Stars in their last encounter in a 2004 Afcon qualifier courtesy of a solitary Jimmy Gatete strike, Ghana were as much on a revenge mission.

Andre Ayew returned to the starting XI for the first time since March, as captain in the absence of the injured Asamoah Gyan, whose place was taken up by Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, while Afriyie Acquah and Jordan Ayew both earned starting spots despite recent controversies surrounding the duo and the Torino man’s wife.

In that, a harmless Daniel Amartey free header from a Wakaso corner kick after six minutes, and a coolly collected Christian Atsu effort from range remained the only attempts on goal in the first half hour as both sides resorted to ballooning the ball up and out than to control.

Wakaso drove in a long cross from a free-kick on 31 minutes but Andre Ayew, under pressure from his marker, failed to direct his header on goal.


But then, the decider was to come shortly, as Mubarak Wakaso curled in a neat free kick beyond the reach of Kwizera to give Ghana the lead on 85 minutes.

The Amavubi tried to launch a late challenge in the closing stages, but were not able to make use of a further four-minute injury time addition, as Grant led his men to a memorable revenge in Kigali.

Source: Goal.com