Ghana into Quarters After 1-0 In Over Burkina Faso at Cup of Nations

The Black Stars use of Cup of Nations as a trial for South Africa aspirants did not stop them from getting to the competition’s quarterfinals, advancing out of Group B with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso, earning the group’s second place.

Burkina Faso was eliminated from the tournament.

Again Ghana started with some of its best players on the bench. Defender Eric Addo – a linchpin in qualifying – started on the bench, as midfielder Anthony Anna. Agyemand Opoku was rewarded for his tormenting Cote d’Ivoire with a spot on the bench, while U-20 World Cup star Dominic Adiyiah remained out of the team.

Adiyiah and Opoku would see time in the second half.

Marseille starlet André Ayew got the Ghanians on the board in the 30th minute. Unmarked on a set piece from Ghana’s right flank, Ayew powered a header home from 14-meters to give the Black Stars a 1-0 lead.

The goal came after a half-hour where Burkina Faso looked a good as the Ghanians, though they were lacking in approaching goal, particularly on a seventh minute counter from Jonathan Pitroipa.

As was the case against Cote d’Ivoire, the Ghana side seemed to use that first half-hour as a wake-up period. From just before their goal to well into the second-half, Ghana had the better of play, with Kwadwo Asamoah showing flashes of future stardom.

Starting in the 60th minute, Burkina Faso started to generate opportunities. Twice near that mark, Ghana chopped down Barkinabé as the attack entered Ghana’s third. The resulting free kicks led to near-opportunities for Burkina Faso.

Additionally, Burkina Faso generated an opportunity down their left flank, getting to the end line before cutting the ball back to Pitroipa, unmarked in the middle of the Ghana area. The play, however, was whistled offside.

In the 66th minute, Burkina Faso was dealt a blow to their chances for an equalizer when defender Mamadou Tall was issued a second yellow card, the result of apparent (though not uncommon) embellishment on the part of a Ghanian attacker who went down clutching his face as he and Tall raced for a ball played beyond the back line.

Ghana would have the best chances over the final twenty-five minutes (plus stoppage time), though they bunkered-in during the last five minutes.

Ultimately, Burkina Faso was unable to find a Cup of Nations goal, losing to Ghana 1-0 to finish third in Group B.

Ghana finishes second to Cote d’Ivoire, earning three points and a quarterfinal match with host Angola.

The result means Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria will meet another quarterfinal.