AFCON: Ayew on fire for Ghana
29/01/2012
Ligue 1 stars past and present shone on Saturday as Ghana and Guinea beat Mali and Botswana respectively in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations.
2010 runners-up Ghana are on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals thanks to a 2-0 win over Mali in Franceville.
Former Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan sent the Black Stars on their way with a wonderfully struck free-kick from the edge of the penlty box after the first half finished goalless.
Then Marseille forward André Ayew, son of OM legend Abedi Pele, wrong-footed the Mali defence before stroking the ball home at the near post, after a another nice bit of work from Gyan.
Mali were unlucky not to score earlier through Cheick Diabate, the Bordeaux man was left frustrated as he watched his free-kick hit the woodwork twice while Sochaux’s Modibo Maiga also squandered a great chance.
Rampant Guinea
Elsewhere Guinea thrashed 10-man Botswana 6-1 to record the biggest winning margin in Africa’s showpiece competition since Ivory Coast beat Ethiopia by the same scoreline in 1970.
Bastia star Sadio Diallo scored a first half brace while Abdoul Rezzagui Camara (Sochaux) showed his potential with a man of the match goalscoring performance. Ibrahima Traore, Mamadou Bah and Naby Soumah also scored to complete the rout.
Ghana top Group D on six points, but it will go down to the last game when Guinea play the Black Stars and Mali face Botswana as both Guinea and Mali could still theoretically qualify.