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– Ghana and Guinea face-off in their final 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group D match in Franceville. |
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– Guinea must win the game and with their pacey attack they are expected to go at the Black Stars. |
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– Anything but a win will send Guinea packing, even after they equalled the Nations Cup record for the biggest win in the finals history by beating Botswana 6-1 on Saturday night. |
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– Guinea coach Michael Dussuyer said: “Against Ghana it will be like a final.” |
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1’ – We are under way in Franceville! |
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3’ – Masawudu Alhassan (Ghana) is cautioned. |
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3’ – An early caution for Alhassan from South African referee Daniel Bennett for a robust challenge. |
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5’ – First corner of the game for Guinea ... poor effort and easily cleared. |
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6’ – A reminder of the scenario tonight: Ghana will win the group if they do not lose to Guinea, or they lose to Guinea by only 1 goal and Mali defeat Botswana. They advance to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group if they lose to Guinea by |
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6’ – ... 2 or 3 goals, or they lose to Guinea and Mali fail to defeat Botswana. |
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7’ – Got it? I don't want to have to repeat that! |
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7’ – Mali will advance to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group if they defeat Botswana and Ghana defeat or draw with Guinea, or they draw with Botswana and Ghana defeat Guinea. |
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7’ – Guinea will win the group if they defeat Ghana by at least 2 goals, or they defeat Ghana and Mali fail to defeat Botswana. |
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7’ – Guinea will advance to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group if they defeat Ghana by only 1 goal and Mali defeat Botswana, or they draw against Ghana and Botswana defeat Mali, or they lose to Ghana and Botswana defeat Mali by at most 8 |
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7’ – Botswana will advance to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team in the group if they defeat Mali by at least 9 goals and Ghana defeat Guinea. |
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10’ – Gyan gets to the byline and pulls the ball back into the Guinea six-yard box, but there is not a white short in sight. |
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12’ – Guinea want a penalty after Ibrahima Traoré goes down under a challenge from Alhassan. Referee Bennett rightly waves play-on. |
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14’ – Another corner for Guinea, they are having a really good spell of pressure ... they take it short and the Ghana defence races out to clear. Again a bit wasted that. |
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17’ – Still Guinea applying most of the pressure by Ghana goalkeeper Kwarasey hasn't had a save to make. |
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20’ – Third corner to Guinea, first two were diabolique ... this one reaches Bangoura on the edge of the box and his ball is cleared by Vorsah for another set-piece. |
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21’ – Pascal Feindouno (Guinea) is cautioned. |
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22’ – Feindouno prevents a quick free-kick and is booked. |
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23’ – Midway through the first half and still 0-0, as it is between Mali and Botswana in Libreville. As it stands, Ghana and Mali are going through. |
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26’ – Guinea have the ball int he back of the net but is is disallowed for offside. Feindouno threads a beauty of a ball for Ibrahima Traoré, who beats Kwarasey. But he is a yard off. Right call. |
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28’ – Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Ghana) scores! |
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28’ – You will not see a better goal in this tournament, or perhaps this year. Agyemang-Badu collected the ball 30-yards out and the Udinese man flicked it up and smashed it on the volley in to the net. Pure class! |
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32’ – Free-kick for Ghana some way out. It is floated towards Gyan but he goes down in heap under not much pressure. Guinea clear. |
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35’ – Andre Ayew collects an elbow in the head from Zayatte ... that looked a little naughty, but the referee rules it was accidental. |
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38’ – Yet another Guinea corner, ball eventually thumped towards Kwarasey's goal but the keeper punches clear. |
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41’ – Gyan with a big penalty shout! Turned down but I think that was a spot-kick. he puts the ball through Zayette's legs and goes to retrieve, but the defender blocks him by moving into his line of running. Surely a pen? |
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42’ – Guinea at sixes and sevens at the back, Gyan's shot is blocked and Inkoom cannot turn the ball home, he puts it wide. Big chance! |
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45’ – We will have two minutes of injury-time. |
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45 + 1’ – Gyan does well to collect a free-kick on the right-hand side of the box, control well and fire in a low shot that is saved by Naby Yattara. |
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45 + 2’ – Abdoul Camara (Guinea) scores! |
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45 + 2’ – Seconds before halftime! Abdoul Camara races down the left- flank and sends in a cross that eludes Ghana goalkeeper Kwarasey and floats over him and inside the far5 post. Not much the keeper could do there. |
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45 + 3’ – The referee brings the first half to an end. |
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– A really entertaining half of football and Guinea deserve to be level. They have dominated possession, but Ghana have had the better chance. A big second 45 minutes awaits! |
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45 + 5’ – Mamadou Bah (Guinea) is cautioned. |
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45 + 5’ – Bah will now miss the quarterfinals if Guinea make it ... |
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46’ – We are under way in the second half! |
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48’ – Traore has a dip from 30-yards that is always going wide of Kwarasey's goal. |
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50’ – We are hearing of a goal in Libreville ... Botswana have scored! That is great news for Guinea, who now move into second place in the pool as things stand! |
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52’ – If Ghana go on to win this game and the result in Libreville stays the same, Guinea will be through on goal-difference. |
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54’ – Andre Ayew's shoulder pops out for a second time in the game. He is having it popped back in on the touchline as we speak. |
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55’ – Kwarasey makes a super save at the feet of Ismael Bangoura. That was brave, but he is hurt. |
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57’ – Mali are back up to second having levelled in Libreville. The see-saw group continues! Both games at 1-1. |
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58’ – Pinball in the Ghana penalty area but nobody can get a decisive touch to turn it towards goal. The Black Stars scramble it clear. |
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61’ – Guinea are piling on the pressure and Ghana cannot get out of their own half. Sadio Diallo volleys over when well-placed! |
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65’ – Ghana are defending very well, Guinea are battling to find a through the 'white wall' of shirts. |
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69’ – Mamadou Bah (Guinea) is sent off. |
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69’ – Bah leaves his foot in on Paintsil and that is an obvious red! |
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72’ – Mali are now leading Botswana and Guinea's qualification for the next round is looking very slim now. |
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75’ – Ghana Substitution: Prince Tagoe replaces Asamoah Gyan |
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76’ – Guinea Substitution: Habib Balde replaces Pascal Feindouno |
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77’ – Ghana Substitution: Derek Boateng replaces Anthony Annan |
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78’ – Guinea Substitution: Alhassane Bangoura replaces Ibrahima Traoré |
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78’ – Sorry, nothing but a whole bunch of subs to report in the last few minutes! |
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81’ – So around 10 minutes for Guinea to score two goals and hope Botswana equalise against Mali ... a tall ask ... |
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84’ – Ghana have taken the sting out of the game. It has been another professional performance from them, if a little uninspiring. |
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85’ – Guinea Substitution: Naby Soumah replaces Ismael Bangoura |
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87’ – Ghana Substitution: Charles Takyi replaces Andre Dede Ayew |
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88’ – Camara to deliver from the corner, but it is a big waste ... again. The set-pieces have been poor today. |
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90’ – We will have five minutes of injury-time. |
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90 + 1’ – Kamil Zayatte (Guinea) is cautioned. |
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90 + 2’ – The game has finished in Libreville, where Mali have won 2-1. Guinea need a goal! |
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90 + 4’ – Tagoe should have buried his header after a great Agyemang-Badu cross. Instead he put it high and wide. |
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90 + 5’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. |
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– In the end, Guinea just needed another goal which never came. So Ghana head through as winners of the pool and will play Tunisia in the quarterfinals, while Mali will play co-hosts Gabon! |
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