20 January 2008
A packed stadium of 45,000 went delirious with delight in Accra on Sunday night as hosts Ghana overcame Guinea in the last minute of regulation time to win the opening match of the 2008 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament.
"It's going to bring our confidence up," a calm Michael Essien, the Chelsea midfielder, told a television journalist directly after the match. The Black Stars won by 2 goals to 1.
Ghana dominated play in the first half, stopping their fans' hearts three times as they hit the posts. They kept up the pressure in the second half, opening the scoring after 10 minutes with a penalty taken by Asamoah Gyan after 10 minutes.
Guinea hit back within another 10 minutes, when Oumar Kalabane equalized with a header which went into the net off the bar. But Sulley Muntari stole the match for Ghana in the dying minutes with a stunning shot from 25 metres out.
On Monday, Namibia plays Morocco in Group A, and in Group B Mali plays Benin and Nigeria lines up against Côte d'Ivoire.
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Ghana did very well in that game played in Accra Sports Stadium and I would like to urge the Ghanaian teams to keep on waxing stronger and never loose hope.
Ghana has to try their best to win this trophy. I being a Ghanaian would like to congratulate them once again for their performance and I will also like their players to take it easy and play a very good football and bring out a good success and as you do it God will bless you and make you a success in this Nation in Jesus Name.
I love you all and I am happy to be a Ghanaian too. May God see you through.
Joseph Mensah Arik Air Limited Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. Tel: +2348082880649 Tel: +2347033917650