By James Robert Kayindi
It will be easy and quick for many to forget the good football that Ghana displayed on the night than it will be for them to forget the infamous 30 minute halt of the game due to chaos in the stands in Malabo yesterday as the Black Stars of Ghana thrashed the Natio Thunder of Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in the last semi-final game of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
After 82 minutes of play, the game came to a halt as the Ghana fans fled the stands to seek refuge in the lots of staff as littering was being thrown at them by the Equatorial Guinea fans. Police battled with bottles being thrown at them as they tried to gain control and secure the players as a helicopter hovered over the stadium.
After the long 30 minute break, play resumed with the clock forwarded from 82 minutes to 90 minutes. The game was played for three minutes after which centre referee Otogo Castane put an end to it as Ghana won it by 3-0 as the final score to reach Sunday’s final in which they will play Ivory Coast, a final that will be a repeat of the 1992 final of the biennial tournament which Ivory Coast eventually won after a long penalty shootout.
Two first half goals from Jordan Ayew and Mubarak had given Ghana a deserved lead by half-time. Jordan Ayew scored from the spot in the 42nd minute after Kwesi Appiah was fouled by Equatorial Guinea’s goalie Felipe Ovono before Mubarak Wakaso doubled the lead on a counter attack in the final minute of the first half.
Despite the smell of a rat by half-time as Ghana players were shielded off the pitch by Police, normal play resumed in the second half of the game but with a quarter hour left, Marseille’s skipper Andre Ayew put the last nail to Equatorial Guinea’s coffin as he made it 3-0.
With eight minutes to the end of the game, camera focus shifted from the ball to the Ghana fans who were seeking refuge behind one of the goals from the fans of a losing side as their frustrations got the best of them with hope for getting to the finals narrowing down as Ghana showed dominance in the game.
With the hosts still having a game to play against Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to fight for the third finish place, their fate is yet to be decided by CAF.
Email Robert: Robert.k.cirlces@gmail.com
