The talk shop is finally over and the Black Stars have won the bragging rights. The much anticipated, highly talked about game between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Chipolopolo of Zambia has ended with the Ghanaians beating their Zambian counterparts by two goals to one thanks to a Majeed Waris header and a Kwadwo Asamoah strike.
The Ghanaian striker nodded the ball into the net after an unexpected and seemingly harmless lob from John Boye. That was in the first half after only 22minutes of action.
Juventus midfielder, Kwadwo Asamoah unleashed a thunderbolt of a strike from 30-yards which caught Mweene off-guard to double Ghana's lead in the 61st minute.
The Zambians pulled one back through Nathan Sinkala after a beautifully worked out corner-kick in the 70th minute.
The experience of substitute Michael Essien came in handy as he marshaled the midfield to the admiration of the home fans.
The 29-year-old who was shockingly left out of Chelsea�s Champions League squad announced his return to the national team in style, putting up a matured display from the heart of midfield.
Coach Herve Renard�s men kept piling for the equalizer but the Ghanaians held on to win the match and secure passage to the crucial play-offs to be played in October.
The Chipolopolo were looking for their first ever World Cup appearance and needed a win against Ghana to book a place in the play-offs.
For Ghana, it would be a sweet revenge having lost to Zambia in their last two meetings. Ghana will become the first African country to qualify to the World Cup on three successive occasions if they negotiate their play-offs tie with a yet to be determined team.
Watch the goals that were scored in the World Cup Qualifier match between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Chipolopolo of Zambia.
Starting line-up Ghana: Fatau Dauda; Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah; Rabiu Mohammed(Michael Essien), Andre Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mubarak Wakaso(Christian Atsu); Asamoah Gyan(Emmanuel Agyeman Badu),Abdul Majeed Waris.
Zambia XI : Mweene, J. Musonda, Nkausu, Himonde, Sunzu, Sinkala, Mtonga, Lungu, Kalaba, C. Katongo, Mayuka
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