Ghana beat Botswana in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Black Stars beat Botswana
Posted: 2012-01-24 21:22
Ghana beat Botswana 1-0 in Franceville courtesy of a goal from captain John Mensah in their opening Group D game at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
The Olympique Lyonnais defender has given the Black Stars a positive start as one of the tournament favourites, but took an early shower in the second half following his red card for a professional foul.
The four-time African champions dominated most of the play, especially in the first-half, but were unable to score from some good opportunities.
Ghana were able to find the opening goal in the 25th minute from a dead ball situation when an in-swinging corner missed Gyan’s head at the near post but the ball fell kindly for the unmarked John Mensah to bundle it in with his knee.
The score line remained the same at half-time.
The Zebras returned hoping to overturn the deficit and came close to scoring when Patrick Motsepe's far post header beat Ghana’s goalkeeper Adams Kwarasey but was cleared off the line by Black Stars defender John Boye.
With about 66 minutes of game played, Botswana’s danger man Jerome Ramatlhakwane broke free on goal, but was brought down on the edge of the penalty box by the Ghanaian captain Mensah, who instantly received his marching orders from referee Diatta Badara of Senegal.
It was the southern Africans time to dictate the pace of the game after Mensah was sent off, but their numerous efforts around Ghana’s goalmouth amounted to nothing and the match finished 1-0 to the Ghanaians.
: 2012-01-24 21:40
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