AFCON 2021: Ghana draws with Gabon as Dede Ayew picks Man of the Match award
The Black Stars conceded late for the second game running as they drew against Gabon on Friday, January 14 as Jim Allevinah scored late in the game to earn an important point for Gabon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.
Ghana went into Friday’s game in search of their first win in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to deepen their chances of qualifying to the round of 16 but failed to protect their lead.
Captain Andre Ayew gave Ghana the lead in the 18th minute with a goal of the tournament contender with a cracking finish outside the penalty box after receiving a pass into his path from Thomas Partey.
Ghana looked too relaxed after taking the lead as they allowed Gabon to see much of the ball and the Panthers should have equalised before the half-time break but Joojo Wollacott was on hand to make a fine save from Athanase Bouanga’s free-kick.
The Black Stars headed into the break with the heads up with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, both teams struggled to keep up the tempo from the opening half but Gabon looked the most threatening team possessing much of the ball.
Andy Yiadom, Baba Rahman and Baba Iddrisu all made vital interventions in the course of the game to keep Ghana’s one-goal lead intact.
However, with two minutes to go until the full-time whistle, substitute Allevinah levelled the game for the Pathers with a commanding strike from just inside the 18-yeard box to break the hearts of Ghanaians.
Ghana was angry that Gabon failed to return the ball after it had been put out for a Black Stars injury.
Daniel Kofi Kyere had gone down following a challenge inside the Gabon half but, from the resulting throw-in, Guelor Kanga played the ball to Allevinah, who struck a low left-footed shot across Jojo Wollacott and into the bottom right-hand corner.
Ayew protested to referee Lahlou Benbraham about the goal, and scuffles broke out as Gabon celebrated at the final whistle.
Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh was shown a red card after the final whistle for his part in the on-pitch melee.
Andre Dede Ayew was awarded the Man of the match after his fantastic performance for the Ghana Black Stars.
Speaking at the award presentation, the captain was confident of the Black Stars qualification into the next round in their game against Comoros.
“I hope we win the next game against Comoros; four points will be enough to move on. We are Ghana and we will win the next game, God willing.”
Patrice Neveu, head coach for Gabon said the result was fair.
“We did not play well in the first half, like the first game. In the second half we were more offensive, and we trusted ourselves. I think the draw is a fair result. We missed many players, but Ghana didn’t dominate us.”
Milovan Rajevac, head coach of Ghana said his team will be more focused going into the game against Comoros.
“It was a difficult and competitive game. We were supposed to end the match winning, but as in the first game we lost concentration. I think in the next game we will do better and we will be able to collect the three points to move on to the next stage. We need to stay focused and be strong-minded to move on.”
The result on Friday means, Ghana will now have to win their last game against Comoros to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
