The returning Asamoah Gyan struck a
dramatic stoppage-time winner as Ghana kickstarted their Africa Cup of
Nations campaign with a 1-0 Group C victory against Algeria in Mongomo
on Friday, AFP reports.
Gyan missed his side’s opening 2-1
defeat to Senegal on Monday after contracting a mild bout of malaria,
but he was brought back into the starting line-up by coach Avram Grant
for a must-win encounter against the Algerians and snatched all three
points in the second minute of injury time.
His goal lit up what had been a dire
contest on a bobbly surface and allowed Ghana to move level with Algeria
on three points in the group.
Along with the return of talisman Gyan,
the only other change for the Black Stars at kick-off saw Afriyie Acquah
come into the midfield.
For Algeria, meanwhile, Madjid Bougherra
came into the centre of the defence and took the captain’s armband,
while Ishak Belfodil was rewarded for an impressive showing from the
bench in the win against South Africa with a start at the expense of
Islam Slimani, who had a foot problem.
Nevertheless, this was not a game for
attacking players, with the first half in particular a scrappy affair
marred by crunching challenges.
Andre Ayew was caught above the ankle
from one high tackle, while Algeria star Yacine Brahimi was himself the
victim of a bruising interception in midfield.
The Black Stars sought to take the game
to their opponents after the restart, and Jordan Ayew dribbled into the
box from the left only for his final shot to lack power and cause Rais
Mbolhi in goal few problems.
Harrison Afful then dug out a cross from
the right which was headed across goal and wide by Gyan at the near
post, before Jordan Ayew flicked a driven ball from his brother Andre
just over from close range.
Meanwhile, Algeria took 66 minutes to
really threaten, Sofiane Feghouli breaking into the Ghana box from the
left and drilling a shot across goal, only for the ball to flash wide of
the far post
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