Ghana Edge Past Gabon In Friendly

Ghana needed a last-gasp goal to dispatch 2012 Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Gabon 2-1 in an international friendly played at the Stade Municipal on Tuesday night.

The Black Stars went ahead courtesy an Emmnauel Agyeman-Badu penalty kick when the Udinese man made no mistake to send Didier Ovino the wrong way.

Ghana were in control until of the match until head coach Goran Stevanovic was forced to make an early substitution after stand-in captain Sulley Muntari picked an injury.

The Serb introduced Daniel Opare to his favourite right-back role and re-assigned Samuel Inkoom as a right winger.

Gabon never gave up and threatened the Ghana goal area until the leveller came on 44 minutes.

Eric Moulongui rose above his marker and with a blistering header which beat goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey.

Stevanovic rang changes in the second half and introduced Derek Boateng, Mohammed Abu and debutants Jeffrey Schlupp and Charles Takyi were handed playing times.

Gabon could have gone ahead but the Isaac Vorsah and Lee Addy partnership was like a watershed and repelled all attacks.

With the game heading for a draw, Andre Ayew glided in a cross which was perfectly guided in by South Korea-based striker Derek Asamoah.

The Pohang Steelers ace came on as a second half substitute on his return to the Ghana set up by directing home Andre Ayew’s corner-kick on the 90th minute mark.

This was Ghana’s first friendly match win since February when they beat Togo 4-1 in Belgium.

The match served as a good preparatory match for the four-time continental champions who play Bostwana, Guinea and Mali at the tournament which begins on 21 January.

Ghana starting line-up: Adam Kwarasey, Samuel Inkoom, Masawudu Alhassan, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Anthony Annan, Andre Ayew, Agyeman Badu, Prince Tagoe, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari

Bench: Ernest Sowah, Daniel Opare, Sumaila Rashid, Charles Takyi, Abu Mohammed, Derek Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Derek Asamoah, Jeffrey Schulpp, Daniel Agyei