Madagascar beat Ghana in CHAN shocker
Debutants Madagascar beat Ghana 2-1 at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Sunday.
Black Galaxies, one of the favorites to win the 2022 edition of the tournament for home players, got off to a terrible start, losing to Madagascar in Constantine.
Both teams came to the game knowing that a win would put them at the top of the group because the game between Morocco and Sudan did not take place earlier in the day. The defending champions were absent from Alegria due to diplomatic tensions between the two North African nations.
Madagascar, playing in their first CHAN match, started well and were rewarded after just 10 minutes when Koloina Razafidranaivo scored their second goal inside the box after the first was blocked by Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim.
Ghana were awarded a penalty for a few seconds, but the decision was rightly overturned by the Video Assistant Referee, and the score was nil.
Ghana struggled in the first half, with the Malagasy keeping key players Gladson Awako and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh. However, Ghana broke through Madagascar’s defense at the end of the first 45 minutes, with Great Olympic striker Razak Yussif missing a big chance from inside the box.
After the break, Madagascar sat deep, expecting Ghana to attack, but the slippery pitch at the Stade Chahid-Hamlaoui made life difficult for the Black Galaxies. They can not easily string pass together. Madagascar, on the other hand, exuded confidence whenever they had the ball.
Madagascar’s second goal came in the 61st minute. Augustine Randolf failed to connect the ball properly when trying to pass it to the Danlad goalkeeper. Tsiry Randriantsiferana capitalized, and his shot deflected off Danlad, who was off the line, and into the net.
Walker was forced to make substitutions after the second goal, including the introduction of Kotoko right-back Augustine Agyapong, who replaced Randolf. The defender immediately made an impact, beating the keeper with a cross to halve the deficit and set up the finish.
After that stunning goal, Black Galaxies scored the equaliser, spamming it into the Madagascar box. They had great chances, one of which fell to Afriyie Barnieh in the closing stages, but he shot straight at the onrushing keeper before rebounding, as Ghana lost to Algeria.
Annor Walker’s men must respond to Sudan on Thursday. If they lose, they are out of the tournament.
.
Read the Full Story
Advertise Here contact advertisement[@]ghheadlines.com