Ghana drew 1-1 with 10-man Guinea in their final group game at the African Cup of Nations to finish top of Group D and reach the quarter-finals.
The Black Stars will clash with Tunisia on Sunday in Franceville after topping the group with seven points and are joined by Mali to the second round.
Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Camara Razzagui equalized for Guinea, two minutes into injury time of the first half at the Stade de Franceville.
Ghana, who made two changes from their previous line up introduced Isaac Vorsah and Samuel Inkoom for Jonathan Mensah and Sulley Muntari for the the game.
After Masahudu Alhassan picked up the first booking in the 3rd minute, the first scoring opportunity fell to Ghana but Andre Ayew was late to connect Asamoah Gyan’s cut back in the 8th minute.
Guinea broke forward after intercepting a pass to Kwadwo Asamoah and almost go the opener in 10th minute but Adam Kwarasey came off his line to save the situation.
A goal to Guinea in the 25th minute was ruled out for off-side after the flag had long gone before Traore Ibrahima planted the ball past Kwarasey.
Two minutes later, the Black Stars shot into the lead. Agyemang-Badu scored his first Nations Cup goal from 20 yards when he unleashed a powerful volley into the upright of Yattara Moussa’s goal.
The goal was Ghana’s 100th at the Nations Cup. But soon after the opener, Kwarasey was called into action when he tipped a volley over the bar from a corner kick.
With five minutes to end the half, Ghana had a penalty appeal turned down. Gyan run onto a long pass, got into the box and nutmeg Syli National captain, Zayatte Kamil but referee Daniel Bennet waved play on. A minute later Samuel Inkoom saw his effort from the six-yard box miss the far post by inches.
Guinea went on the break and had the chance to score but Diallo Sadio shot feebly into the arms of Kwarasey.
Two minutes into injury time, Gyan a shot to the near post of Yattara but the goalkeeper was quick to go down for a save.
Guinea got the equalizer through Camara Razzagui, who on the run shot from outside the box and the ball, dipping flew into Kwarasey’s goal in the 47th minute to end the half 1-1.
The second half got off to a slow start with Guinea pushing for the lead. Kwarasey made another good save deny the Syli National.
In the 70th minute, Bah Mamadou was sent off after a second yellow card for a foul on Painstil.
Ghana made two quick changes, bringing on Prince Tagoe and Derek Boateng for Gyan and Anthony Annan in the 75th minute.
With four minutes of play remaining, Charles Takyi was introduced for Ayew as Ghana exhausted all of its substitutions.
Tagoe’s powerful run towards goal was stopped by Zayatte as the Guinea captain was booked. But Kwadwo Asamoah’s free-kick was easy for Yattara to handle.
Soon after, Tagoe a great chance to give Ghana the lead but his header was way off target and that summed up the draw.
Source: Ghanafa.org
Goal: E. Agyemang-Badu 28' (assist by S. Inkoom) 1-0 45'+2 Abdoul Camara (assist by I. Diallo) 1-1 Red Card: 69' M. Bah
Venue: Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
Ghana: Kwarasey, Paintsil (C), Alhassan, Vorsah, Boye, Annan/D Boateng, Inkoom, Badu, Gyan, Asamoah/Tagoe, A. Ayew
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