Ghana settle for draw against Libya in Group C clash

Published on: 17 January 2014
Ghana settle for draw against Libya in Group C clash
Michael Akuffo in action for Black Stars

Ghana remained in contention for qualification to the quarter-final of the African Nations Championship after drawing 1-1 with Libya on Friday in Mangaung.

Yahaya Mohammed opened the scoring with a sixth minute header after dominating play from the blast of the whistle.

Left-back Joshua Tijani whipped in a cross and Mohammed won the tussle with Abdelrahman Fetori to power in past Mohamed Fathi Abdaula, the Libya goalkeeper.

Ghana were on top by this time and the Mediterranean Knights were a shadow of the side which outclassed Ethiopia in the 2-0 win on Monday.

But goalkeeper Stephen Adams was a bit jittery between the sticks and on one occasion spilled a ball which was cleared out by his defenders.

Head coach Maxwell Konadu was forced to make an early substitution when lead attacker Sulley Mohammed limped off after he was tackled from behind.

Mohammed nearly doubled the lead midway through the first but the stretched left leg of goalkeeper Abdaula kept out his shot at goal.

The Asante Kotoko player controlled a long ball inside the area and dummied two defenders but his second attempt was blocked.

After the break, Libya put up a stirred up display and pressured the Ghanaians who committed a lot of mistakes at the back.

In the 52nd minute, Elmutasem Abushnaf put pressure on Sulley and headed past the on-rushing Adams but referee Jiyed said he impeded the centre-back.

Just after the hour mark, referee Redouane Jiyed from Morocco could not continue play and was replaced by the fourth referee from South Africa.

By this time, Libya were coming very, very close to grabbing the equalizer.

The North Africans attacked and dinged in a nice cross but the diving header failed to find the back of the net.

Two minutes later, defender Nuru Sulley caught his Libyan marker and dragged him into the box.

The referee whistled for an infringement and Faisal Mansour Ali converted penalty kick on goal.

Adams rose up to the occasion with a fine save to deny a free-kick from entering the net.

Both sides mounted a strong search for the winning goal but he the strikers lacked the cutting edge.

Libya will still remain on top of the Group with four points-just like Ghana-with superior goal difference.

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