By Brian Homewood
ACCRA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - African Nations Cup co-hosts Ghana took a big step towards the quarter-finals on Thursday, handing a 2-0 beating to smaller neighbours Togo whose German coach Gottlieb Goeller did not turn up for the game.
Ghana won with goals from Sporting Lisbon striker Kwame Ayew and Borussia Dortmund's Otto Addo despite receiving the first red card of the tournament.
A Confederation of African Football (CAF)official said after the game that Goeller had been struck down with a bout of malaria. But receptionists at the Togo team hotel said Goeller had checked out shortly after the team had left for the game and had hopped in a taxi for an unknown destination.
They said he appeared fit and well, though angry. Goeller, in his fourth stint as Togo coach, had been feuding with federation officials throughout over what he on Wednesday described as their "useless" organisation and had promised to throw in the towel at the end of the tournament.
Ayew , with his second goal of the cup and aided by a blunder from Togo goalkeeper Kossi Agassa, and Addo put the Black Stars into a two-goal halftime lead before defender Eben Dugbarty's 65th minute dismissal for kicking an opponent. The Italian background of Ghana's coach Giuseppe Dosena showed through in the second half as the home team concentrated on defending their lead, wasting time and trying to catch Togo on the counter-attack. Seven minutes injury time were added on.
REVENGE But the Black Stars were happy to avenge a shock 2-1 defeat by the Sparrowhawks, which cost them a quarter-final place at the last Nations Cup. Ghana lead the group with four points while Togo have one, each from two games. Cameroon and Ivory Coast, who meet in Accra on Friday, each have one point from one game. A cagey opening failed to produce any real chances until the 28th minute blunder by Agassa, the only one of the 22 players who started the match to be based with a club in his own country. The Togolese goalkeeper allowed Ayew's low but powerful shot to bounce off his body and into the goal. The second came in the 37th minute when Addo broke clear of the defence and rounded Agassa to score into an empty goal. Lantame Ouadja came closest to reducing the deficit in the 76th minute but his shot was turned over by goalkeeper Richard Kingston.
