Ghana and Zambia in fourth meeting at Africa Cup of Nations

Bata, Feb. 7, GNA – Ghana and Zambia will be involved in the fourth meeting between the two sides at the Africa Cup of Nations, when the two sides face-off in Wednesday’s semi final encounter.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that the Stars have emerged victors twice on the three previous meetings between the two sides with the other going the way of the Zambians.

The first ever meeting between the two sides at the finals of the flagship African football tournament was during the 1978 edition hosted in Ghana.

The duo clashed in the opening match of the tournament with the Black Stars coming from behind to win 2-1. The Chipolopolos took the lead on eight minutes through Obby Kapita before Opoku Afriyie cancelled the lead on 21 minutes. Abdul ‘Golden Boy’ Razak netted the winner on 55 minutes as the Black Stars went on to win the title for the third time.

On January 15, 1992, the two teams will face-off again for the second time at the group phase. Ghana won the tie 1-0 with Abedi Pele Ayew scoring the only goal of the match.

Four years later, the Black Stars lost by a lone to the Zambians in the third-place match at the South Africa 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. Striker Johnson Bwalya scored the only goal to aid Zambia pick the bronze.

At stake on Wednesday is a place at the grand finale scheduled for February 12 at the Stade de l’amitie in Libreville, Gabon and it is the prayer of all Ghanaians that they Stars will put a vintage performance to annex the ultimate trophy which has eluded the nation for decades.