This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/feb/05/ghana-v-equatorial-guinea-africa-cup-of-nations-semi-final-live
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ghana v Equatorial Guinea: Africa Cup of Nations semi-final – live! | Ghana v Equatorial Guinea: Africa Cup of Nations semi-final – live! |
| (18 days later) | |
| 9.24pm GMT | |
| 21:24 | |
| Full-time: Equatorial Guinea 0-3 Ghana, eventually | Full-time: Equatorial Guinea 0-3 Ghana, eventually |
| There is no doubt that Ghana deserve their place in the final, where they will meet Ivory Coast in what could be a classic contest, assuming it goes ahead without a hitch. The consequences of the violence that forced a delay in this semi-final will be worth following. Equatorial Guinea should be banned, but it might not be a good idea to make such a decision before they host the final, especially with Equatorial Guinea scheduled to play DR Congo in the third-placed playoff. On the other hand, it would perhaps be a senseless risk to let Equatorial Guinea play again so soon after this dangerous fiasco. Tough decision ahead for CAF. | There is no doubt that Ghana deserve their place in the final, where they will meet Ivory Coast in what could be a classic contest, assuming it goes ahead without a hitch. The consequences of the violence that forced a delay in this semi-final will be worth following. Equatorial Guinea should be banned, but it might not be a good idea to make such a decision before they host the final, especially with Equatorial Guinea scheduled to play DR Congo in the third-placed playoff. On the other hand, it would perhaps be a senseless risk to let Equatorial Guinea play again so soon after this dangerous fiasco. Tough decision ahead for CAF. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.40pm GMT | |
| 9.21pm GMT | |
| 21:21 | |
| 90+2 min: There is an understandable - indeed, perfectly sensible - lack of intensity to the play now. The priority seems to be to just wrap up this game formally and then get the hell out of there. | 90+2 min: There is an understandable - indeed, perfectly sensible - lack of intensity to the play now. The priority seems to be to just wrap up this game formally and then get the hell out of there. |
| 9.19pm GMT | |
| 21:19 | |
| 90 min: The official clock in the corner of the TV screen said play actually resumed in the 90th minute. Even some time seems to have got lost during the forced break. | 90 min: The official clock in the corner of the TV screen said play actually resumed in the 90th minute. Even some time seems to have got lost during the forced break. |
| 9.19pm GMT | |
| 21:19 | |
| 86 min: It’s on! After a powwow of about one minute, the ref walks over, drops the ball and the game is back on. | 86 min: It’s on! After a powwow of about one minute, the ref walks over, drops the ball and the game is back on. |
| 9.17pm GMT | |
| 21:17 | |
| 86 min: The plot thickens. It now seems that play will not resume. The ref and players seemed poised to perform the dropped back for about 60 seconds, but then the ref was beckoned over to the sidelines by chaps in suits - presumably CAF officials - and agitated discussions are taking place. It is not apparent who is in charge, nor what will happen. | 86 min: The plot thickens. It now seems that play will not resume. The ref and players seemed poised to perform the dropped back for about 60 seconds, but then the ref was beckoned over to the sidelines by chaps in suits - presumably CAF officials - and agitated discussions are taking place. It is not apparent who is in charge, nor what will happen. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.18pm GMT | |
| 9.14pm GMT | |
| 21:14 | |
| 86 min: Well this is a turn-up. After an interlude of about half an hour, play is resuming with a dropped ball. It’s not clear what is happening in the stands, but reports suggest that the trouble-makers have been driven outside. Quite what is going on out there - and what will go on out here later - is even less clear. | 86 min: Well this is a turn-up. After an interlude of about half an hour, play is resuming with a dropped ball. It’s not clear what is happening in the stands, but reports suggest that the trouble-makers have been driven outside. Quite what is going on out there - and what will go on out here later - is even less clear. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.16pm GMT | |
| 9.11pm GMT | |
| 21:11 | |
| Police helicopter hovers above the pitch with the #Ghana fans in real danger. It's now like a war zone. #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/9s7UkrYxQF | Police helicopter hovers above the pitch with the #Ghana fans in real danger. It's now like a war zone. #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/9s7UkrYxQF |
| 9.10pm GMT | |
| 21:10 | |
| The players, ref and assistants are still standing in the middle of the pitch. I don’t know whether that means that they still hope that the match can resume or simply that they cannot find a safe route to the dressing rooms. | The players, ref and assistants are still standing in the middle of the pitch. I don’t know whether that means that they still hope that the match can resume or simply that they cannot find a safe route to the dressing rooms. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.37pm GMT | |
| 9.08pm GMT | |
| 21:08 | |
| Volunteers and journalists in the media area all terribly suffering from effects of teargas. | Volunteers and journalists in the media area all terribly suffering from effects of teargas. |
| 9.07pm GMT | |
| 21:07 | |
| Ghanaian fans being moved into stand in front of press-box. Not sure how wise - if fans still in tier above us, they'll be sitting ducks. | Ghanaian fans being moved into stand in front of press-box. Not sure how wise - if fans still in tier above us, they'll be sitting ducks. |
| 9.06pm GMT | |
| 21:06 | |
| According to various reports, trouble is now brewing outside the stadium: many people of dubious intent have apparently gathered near the exists and are suspected to be waiting to ambush Ghanaian fans. I hope those reports were wrong, or that sufficient security forces are in place to prevent this deteriorating... | According to various reports, trouble is now brewing outside the stadium: many people of dubious intent have apparently gathered near the exists and are suspected to be waiting to ambush Ghanaian fans. I hope those reports were wrong, or that sufficient security forces are in place to prevent this deteriorating... |
| Updated | |
| at 10.00pm GMT | |
| 9.03pm GMT | |
| 21:03 | |
| From what the TV cameras are showing, many of the fans have left the stadium. But apparently not the one causing trouble, judging by the way the Ghanaian fans who were attacked are still huddling behind the goal at one hand, clearly not prepared to return to where they had been. A helicopter is still hovering over the pitch, though stewards seem to be waving the home players back on to the pitch. | From what the TV cameras are showing, many of the fans have left the stadium. But apparently not the one causing trouble, judging by the way the Ghanaian fans who were attacked are still huddling behind the goal at one hand, clearly not prepared to return to where they had been. A helicopter is still hovering over the pitch, though stewards seem to be waving the home players back on to the pitch. |
| 8.59pm GMT | |
| 20:59 | |
| Most of the Equatoguinean squad are on the running track around the pitch at the end of the ground where the trouble is, pleading with fans to calm down. | Most of the Equatoguinean squad are on the running track around the pitch at the end of the ground where the trouble is, pleading with fans to calm down. |
| 8.58pm GMT | |
| 20:58 | |
| Ugly scenes here. The question is how are the Ghana fans going to leave the stadium tonight. The world is watching... pic.twitter.com/WZizIVGjW8 | Ugly scenes here. The question is how are the Ghana fans going to leave the stadium tonight. The world is watching... pic.twitter.com/WZizIVGjW8 |
| 8.57pm GMT | |
| 20:57 | |
| There is a kerfuffle on the pitch now as several Equatoguinean players surround a couple of CAF officials in much the same way that they kept surrounding the ref earlier on. They are evidently unhappy about a decision, which suggests the organisers may have resolved to abandon the game. But maybe not. Nothing is clear at the moment. | There is a kerfuffle on the pitch now as several Equatoguinean players surround a couple of CAF officials in much the same way that they kept surrounding the ref earlier on. They are evidently unhappy about a decision, which suggests the organisers may have resolved to abandon the game. But maybe not. Nothing is clear at the moment. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.34pm GMT | |
| 8.54pm GMT | |
| 20:54 | |
| Now a helicopter has flown RIGHT ABOVE the fans behind the goal, scattering them with its draught. | Now a helicopter has flown RIGHT ABOVE the fans behind the goal, scattering them with its draught. |
| 8.53pm GMT | |
| 20:53 | |
| The cameras still are not showing anything other than the players and officials standing and hoping. But there are sounds of helicopters in the sky, which suggests a significant security is under way operation to restore order. The fault for this lies, of course, with the people throwing stuff and perpetrating whatever other sort of mayhem we are not being shown. But the Equatorial Guinea players cannot claim to have shown a good example of sportsmanship, having fouled, acted and bickered ever since it became clear they were not good enough to win the match. It’s a real pity how this is ending. | The cameras still are not showing anything other than the players and officials standing and hoping. But there are sounds of helicopters in the sky, which suggests a significant security is under way operation to restore order. The fault for this lies, of course, with the people throwing stuff and perpetrating whatever other sort of mayhem we are not being shown. But the Equatorial Guinea players cannot claim to have shown a good example of sportsmanship, having fouled, acted and bickered ever since it became clear they were not good enough to win the match. It’s a real pity how this is ending. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.28pm GMT | |
| 8.49pm GMT | |
| 20:49 | |
| Players and officials are still standing on the pitch. They are obviously hoping they can play out the remaining six minutes or so but it is hard to know how likely that is, as the cameras are not showing what is going on at the end of the stadium where the trouble seemed to be. | Players and officials are still standing on the pitch. They are obviously hoping they can play out the remaining six minutes or so but it is hard to know how likely that is, as the cameras are not showing what is going on at the end of the stadium where the trouble seemed to be. |
| 8.48pm GMT | |
| 20:48 | |
| Game stopped with Ghanaian fans trapped by side of pitch. A fan runs on, approaches ref and is knocked to ground by stewards. | Game stopped with Ghanaian fans trapped by side of pitch. A fan runs on, approaches ref and is knocked to ground by stewards. |
| 8.47pm GMT | |
| 20:47 | |
| Announcement threatening abandonment if bottle-throwing continues. More bottles thrown immediately. | Announcement threatening abandonment if bottle-throwing continues. More bottles thrown immediately. |
| 8.45pm GMT | |
| 20:45 | |
| 84 min: Oh dear. This is what we feared: the referee has picked up the ball and asked the police to restore order as fans spill on to the edge of one end of the pitch. There are suggestions that they are Ghanaian fans seeking safety after being bombarded by bottles and other objects, but the situation is not at all clear. | 84 min: Oh dear. This is what we feared: the referee has picked up the ball and asked the police to restore order as fans spill on to the edge of one end of the pitch. There are suggestions that they are Ghanaian fans seeking safety after being bombarded by bottles and other objects, but the situation is not at all clear. |
| 8.42pm GMT | |
| 20:42 | |
| 82 min: Acheampong ducks to avoid some hurled object as he waits on the sideline before coming on in place of Andre Ayew. | 82 min: Acheampong ducks to avoid some hurled object as he waits on the sideline before coming on in place of Andre Ayew. |
| 8.42pm GMT | |
| 20:42 | |
| 80 min: After the ball breaks loose at the edge of the Ghanaian box, Doualla attempts a reprise of Yaya Touré stonking goal for Ivory Coast last night. But it’s poor cover version, ballooning into the stand. | 80 min: After the ball breaks loose at the edge of the Ghanaian box, Doualla attempts a reprise of Yaya Touré stonking goal for Ivory Coast last night. But it’s poor cover version, ballooning into the stand. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.43pm GMT | |
| 8.39pm GMT | |
| 20:39 | |
| 78 min: There have been five yellow cards so far and that is because the ref has been quite lenient: Mbele, for instance, could have had at least a couple by now, including for a brutal lunge at Appiah just now. Ghana players will have to keep their wits about them to avoid injury here if their hosts’ mood darkens... | 78 min: There have been five yellow cards so far and that is because the ref has been quite lenient: Mbele, for instance, could have had at least a couple by now, including for a brutal lunge at Appiah just now. Ghana players will have to keep their wits about them to avoid injury here if their hosts’ mood darkens... |
| Updated | |
| at 8.46pm GMT | |
| 8.36pm GMT | |
| 20:36 | |
| GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-3 Ghana (Andre Ayew 75) | GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-3 Ghana (Andre Ayew 75) |
| Another fine goal, Ghana expertly taking advantage of their hosts’ disintegration. Ovono stalled an attack with charge from his goal but Appiah regathered the ball and picked out Ayew in the middle, leaving the Marseille man with the easy task of stroking it into the net from five yards. | Another fine goal, Ghana expertly taking advantage of their hosts’ disintegration. Ovono stalled an attack with charge from his goal but Appiah regathered the ball and picked out Ayew in the middle, leaving the Marseille man with the easy task of stroking it into the net from five yards. |
| 8.32pm GMT | |
| 20:32 | |
| 70 min: Freekick to Ghana wide on the left after Kike tugs back Appiah. A bottle is chucked from the crowd at Wakaso as he tries to take it. Eventually the debris is cleared from the pitch and he sends a weak delivery to the first defender. | 70 min: Freekick to Ghana wide on the left after Kike tugs back Appiah. A bottle is chucked from the crowd at Wakaso as he tries to take it. Eventually the debris is cleared from the pitch and he sends a weak delivery to the first defender. |
| 8.30pm GMT | |
| 20:30 | |
| 68 min: It is not clear which Equatorial Guinea are pursuing more eagerly: a goal, or a red card for Ghana? Cringe-worthy acting from them now almost every time there is physical contact. | 68 min: It is not clear which Equatorial Guinea are pursuing more eagerly: a goal, or a red card for Ghana? Cringe-worthy acting from them now almost every time there is physical contact. |
| 8.27pm GMT | |
| 20:27 | |
| 66 min: Andre Ayew booked for a mistimed but entirely well-intentioned tackle on Kike, who goes rolling as if pushed down a hill. | 66 min: Andre Ayew booked for a mistimed but entirely well-intentioned tackle on Kike, who goes rolling as if pushed down a hill. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.27pm GMT | |
| 8.24pm GMT | |
| 20:24 | |
| 63 min: Lovely exchange between Jordan Ayew and Atsu, before Mbele makes a critical interception to deprive Appiah of the opportunity to tap into the net from close range. | 63 min: Lovely exchange between Jordan Ayew and Atsu, before Mbele makes a critical interception to deprive Appiah of the opportunity to tap into the net from close range. |
| 8.23pm GMT | |
| 20:23 | |
| 62 min: Rahmann joins in a Ghana attack and picks out Jordan Ayew with a good low ball from the left. But Ayew mis-controls and gives Equatorial Guinea a chance to romp forward in that helter-skelter way of theirs. | 62 min: Rahmann joins in a Ghana attack and picks out Jordan Ayew with a good low ball from the left. But Ayew mis-controls and gives Equatorial Guinea a chance to romp forward in that helter-skelter way of theirs. |
| 8.21pm GMT | |
| 20:21 | |
| 60 min: Becker has introduced the giant striker Raul Fabiani instead of defender Evuy as he seeks to stimulate a comeback. | 60 min: Becker has introduced the giant striker Raul Fabiani instead of defender Evuy as he seeks to stimulate a comeback. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.22pm GMT | |
| 8.19pm GMT | |
| 20:19 | |
| 58 min: Ghana are regularly threatening on the counter-attack as the hosts send more players forward in search of a route back into the game. Ovono has to rush off his line again to deny a forward, and his intervention is well-timed. | 58 min: Ghana are regularly threatening on the counter-attack as the hosts send more players forward in search of a route back into the game. Ovono has to rush off his line again to deny a forward, and his intervention is well-timed. |
| 8.18pm GMT | |
| 20:18 | |
| 57 min: Wakaso, for the second time in the game, is caught in possession just outside his own box. Suddenly Equatorial Guinea have a chance to revive the game, but Balboa dabbed a feeble shot way wide after being teed up by Nsue. | 57 min: Wakaso, for the second time in the game, is caught in possession just outside his own box. Suddenly Equatorial Guinea have a chance to revive the game, but Balboa dabbed a feeble shot way wide after being teed up by Nsue. |
| 8.16pm GMT | |
| 20:16 | |
| 55 min: Mensah heads a freekick back across the face of goal and Andre Ayew has a simple opportunity to nod in from close range - but he fails to anticipate properly and flicks his header wide! | 55 min: Mensah heads a freekick back across the face of goal and Andre Ayew has a simple opportunity to nod in from close range - but he fails to anticipate properly and flicks his header wide! |
| 8.13pm GMT | |
| 20:13 | |
| 52 min: Ghana come roaring forward on the counter-attack after Iban Edu botches a corner. Wakaso has a variety of options and Ghana should score a third ... but Wakaso overhits an easy pass, donking it back to the keeper. | 52 min: Ghana come roaring forward on the counter-attack after Iban Edu botches a corner. Wakaso has a variety of options and Ghana should score a third ... but Wakaso overhits an easy pass, donking it back to the keeper. |
| 8.12pm GMT | |
| 20:12 | |
| 51 min: Nsue tries to lead an Equatoguinean fightback in the right sense, careering down the wing and curling in a wicked cross that causes momentary bother in the Ghanaian defence before it’s put behind for a corner. | 51 min: Nsue tries to lead an Equatoguinean fightback in the right sense, careering down the wing and curling in a wicked cross that causes momentary bother in the Ghanaian defence before it’s put behind for a corner. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.18pm GMT | |
| 8.10pm GMT | |
| 20:10 | |
| 49 min: You wouldn’t like to speculate about what will happen if Ghana score a third here - but Jordan Ayew is doing his best to find out. He raced into the box and had a shot from a tight angle put out for a corner. The hosts clear it well, but Ghana come back at them again... | 49 min: You wouldn’t like to speculate about what will happen if Ghana score a third here - but Jordan Ayew is doing his best to find out. He raced into the box and had a shot from a tight angle put out for a corner. The hosts clear it well, but Ghana come back at them again... |
| 8.08pm GMT | |
| 20:08 | |
| 47 min: The atmosphere in the ground is very tense ... but Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak appears to have brought protection with him for the second half: he’s just stationed plastic Spider-man figurine. beside his goal. | 47 min: The atmosphere in the ground is very tense ... but Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak appears to have brought protection with him for the second half: he’s just stationed plastic Spider-man figurine. beside his goal. |
| 8.03pm GMT | |
| 20:03 | |
| 46 min: The teams are back on the pitch. Let’s hope they get to finish the game. This tweet from Jonathan Wilson gives an idea of how the atmosphere seems to be degenerating : | 46 min: The teams are back on the pitch. Let’s hope they get to finish the game. This tweet from Jonathan Wilson gives an idea of how the atmosphere seems to be degenerating : |
| Announcement threatening abandonment if bottle-throwing continues. More bottles thrown immediately. | Announcement threatening abandonment if bottle-throwing continues. More bottles thrown immediately. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.04pm GMT | |
| 7.57pm GMT | |
| 19:57 | |
| Policemen have been called in to create a safe passage for @ghanafaofficial players to enter the dressing. pic.twitter.com/V0k0kjjo5t | Policemen have been called in to create a safe passage for @ghanafaofficial players to enter the dressing. pic.twitter.com/V0k0kjjo5t |
| 7.54pm GMT | |
| 19:54 | |
| It seems that Equatorial Guinean fans have lost their heads even more than their players: Ghana cannot go into the dressing room at half-time because there is a cascade of missiles being hurled from the stands. The Black Stars are standing out of range in the middle of the pitch. | It seems that Equatorial Guinean fans have lost their heads even more than their players: Ghana cannot go into the dressing room at half-time because there is a cascade of missiles being hurled from the stands. The Black Stars are standing out of range in the middle of the pitch. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.20pm GMT | |
| 7.52pm GMT | |
| 19:52 | |
| HALF-TIME: Equatorial Guinea 0-2 Ghana | HALF-TIME: Equatorial Guinea 0-2 Ghana |
| Equatorial Guinea started well, then grew in confidence but they are now at risk of unravelling badly after Ghana established an insurmountable-looking lead. The first came from a penalty - awarded by a Gabonese referee who has had a very good game so far in highly testing circumstances - and the second came from a sweet counter-attack. And the Equatoguineans didn’t take those setbacks well: they’re in danger of losing their rag badly. Their manager needs to cool them down during the break or they’ll have no chance of finishing this game with 11 players, let alone getting back into it. It’ll take something extraordinary to prevent a Ghana-Ivory Coast final now. | Equatorial Guinea started well, then grew in confidence but they are now at risk of unravelling badly after Ghana established an insurmountable-looking lead. The first came from a penalty - awarded by a Gabonese referee who has had a very good game so far in highly testing circumstances - and the second came from a sweet counter-attack. And the Equatoguineans didn’t take those setbacks well: they’re in danger of losing their rag badly. Their manager needs to cool them down during the break or they’ll have no chance of finishing this game with 11 players, let alone getting back into it. It’ll take something extraordinary to prevent a Ghana-Ivory Coast final now. |
| 7.47pm GMT | |
| 19:47 | |
| GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-2 Ghana (Wakaso 45) | GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-2 Ghana (Wakaso 45) |
| Joy unconfined from Ghana - even Avram Grant whoops it up on the sideline! Proper order too, as that was a lovely goal, Wakaso taking the ball neatly as Ghana attacked swiftly and then firing a well-placed shot into the net from 15 yards! | Joy unconfined from Ghana - even Avram Grant whoops it up on the sideline! Proper order too, as that was a lovely goal, Wakaso taking the ball neatly as Ghana attacked swiftly and then firing a well-placed shot into the net from 15 yards! |
| Updated | |
| at 8.14pm GMT | |
| 7.45pm GMT | |
| 19:45 | |
| 43 min: Equatorial Guinea are feeling very put upon here: they took kick-off quickly and began racing down the other end, only to be called back by the referee, who hadn’t indicated that play could resume - which is a good thing for Ghana, as most of their players were still off the pitch celebrating their goal! The home players converge on the ref to demand an explanation as to why they should have to wait for their opponents to stop whooping and dancing, but the official tells them to pipe down. You get the feeling that CAF will be receiving another angrily-worded letter in the near future ... | 43 min: Equatorial Guinea are feeling very put upon here: they took kick-off quickly and began racing down the other end, only to be called back by the referee, who hadn’t indicated that play could resume - which is a good thing for Ghana, as most of their players were still off the pitch celebrating their goal! The home players converge on the ref to demand an explanation as to why they should have to wait for their opponents to stop whooping and dancing, but the official tells them to pipe down. You get the feeling that CAF will be receiving another angrily-worded letter in the near future ... |
| 7.42pm GMT | |
| 19:42 | |
| GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Ghana (J Ayew pen, 42) | GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Ghana (J Ayew pen, 42) |
| A splendid penalty. Jordan Ayew stepped up, waited for Ovono to move (the keeper having only been booked, not sent off), and slotted the ball the other way. | A splendid penalty. Jordan Ayew stepped up, waited for Ovono to move (the keeper having only been booked, not sent off), and slotted the ball the other way. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.16pm GMT | |
| 7.40pm GMT | |
| 19:40 | |
| PENALTY! Ovono embarked on another charge off his line but this time he has mistimed it and brought down Appiah! | PENALTY! Ovono embarked on another charge off his line but this time he has mistimed it and brought down Appiah! |
| 7.38pm GMT | |
| 19:38 | |
| 36 min: On the evidence so far you can see the effect that Esteban Becker has had on his team, but not the effect that Avram Grant has had on his: Ghana look disjointed and unimaginative. OK, some may that is Grant effect, but that’s a cheap shot. But we’ll take what we can get in terms of shots at the moment - there hasn’t been any decent ones on the pitch for a while. | 36 min: On the evidence so far you can see the effect that Esteban Becker has had on his team, but not the effect that Avram Grant has had on his: Ghana look disjointed and unimaginative. OK, some may that is Grant effect, but that’s a cheap shot. But we’ll take what we can get in terms of shots at the moment - there hasn’t been any decent ones on the pitch for a while. |
| 7.34pm GMT | |
| 19:34 | |
| 33 min: Boye boots the ball straight into touch under minimal pressure, encapsulating Ghana’s lack of composure and accuracy. In truth, the game has been high on energy but sadly low on quality so far. | 33 min: Boye boots the ball straight into touch under minimal pressure, encapsulating Ghana’s lack of composure and accuracy. In truth, the game has been high on energy but sadly low on quality so far. |
| 7.31pm GMT | |
| 19:31 | |
| 30 min: Wakaso pings an early ball to Andre Ayew - that’s a recurring tactic - and the Marseille man takes it down nicely, but is then crowded out, as he has been virtually every time he’s got the ball so far. | 30 min: Wakaso pings an early ball to Andre Ayew - that’s a recurring tactic - and the Marseille man takes it down nicely, but is then crowded out, as he has been virtually every time he’s got the ball so far. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.02pm GMT | |
| 7.30pm GMT | |
| 19:30 | |
| 28 min: Jordan Ayew tries to shuffle his way into the box, then turns back and feeds Wakaso, who lays it back for Atsu to have a pop from 20 yards. His low skimmer whizzes wide. | 28 min: Jordan Ayew tries to shuffle his way into the box, then turns back and feeds Wakaso, who lays it back for Atsu to have a pop from 20 yards. His low skimmer whizzes wide. |
| 7.26pm GMT | |
| 19:26 | |
| 26 min: Ghana’s play is becoming increasingly disjointed. It’s looking like this is going to be another match where they will need individual ingenuity to overcome systemic ineffectiveness. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, are gaining in confidence and menace. | 26 min: Ghana’s play is becoming increasingly disjointed. It’s looking like this is going to be another match where they will need individual ingenuity to overcome systemic ineffectiveness. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, are gaining in confidence and menace. |
| 7.24pm GMT | |
| 19:24 | |
| 23 min: What’s this? A bewildering decision by the referee outrages the hosts! Iban Edu, in fact, jumped into the air in fury after being called back for a so-called foul after nicking the ball of Wakaso. Three other Equatoguineans charge towards the ref to express their dismay, too. Nope, definitely not a homer this ref. | 23 min: What’s this? A bewildering decision by the referee outrages the hosts! Iban Edu, in fact, jumped into the air in fury after being called back for a so-called foul after nicking the ball of Wakaso. Three other Equatoguineans charge towards the ref to express their dismay, too. Nope, definitely not a homer this ref. |
| 7.22pm GMT | |
| 19:22 | |
| 21 min: Jordan Ayew is pulled back for offside again. Perhaps it’s time someone pulled him aside and explained the offside law? You’d think he’d have heard mention of it before given his background. | 21 min: Jordan Ayew is pulled back for offside again. Perhaps it’s time someone pulled him aside and explained the offside law? You’d think he’d have heard mention of it before given his background. |
| 7.20pm GMT | |
| 19:20 | |
| 20 min: Negligent defending by Ghana is almost punished as Nsue strains to get his head on a freekick that is allowed to bounce in the visitors’ box. But the Middlesbrough man can’t direct his shot on target. | 20 min: Negligent defending by Ghana is almost punished as Nsue strains to get his head on a freekick that is allowed to bounce in the visitors’ box. But the Middlesbrough man can’t direct his shot on target. |
| 7.19pm GMT | |
| 19:19 | |
| 18 min: Wakaso rightly booked for shunting over Kike as the hosts tried to launch another quick counter-attack. Not a tackle likely to cause physical harm, but definitely one that should be punished severely as it was a deliberate act of sabotage on a promising move. | 18 min: Wakaso rightly booked for shunting over Kike as the hosts tried to launch another quick counter-attack. Not a tackle likely to cause physical harm, but definitely one that should be punished severely as it was a deliberate act of sabotage on a promising move. |
| 7.18pm GMT | |
| 19:18 | |
| 17 min: For the second time in the game Ovono hurtles off his line to clear the danger, this time throwing himself at the ball as Wakaso and A Ayew bore down on it. | 17 min: For the second time in the game Ovono hurtles off his line to clear the danger, this time throwing himself at the ball as Wakaso and A Ayew bore down on it. |
| 7.17pm GMT | |
| 19:17 | |
| 15 min: Ghana’s play has not been precise enough to pick a way through an Equatoguinean side who are full of vibrancy: and their energy will not necessarily abate, as we saw in previous games. | 15 min: Ghana’s play has not been precise enough to pick a way through an Equatoguinean side who are full of vibrancy: and their energy will not necessarily abate, as we saw in previous games. |
| 7.12pm GMT | |
| 19:12 | |
| 13 min: Kike sends the decibels soaring with a jinking run down the right, and he’s unlucky not to be given a freekick after appearing to be shoved over as he tried to enter the Ghanaian box. No risk of the ref being seen as a homer, as this point. | 13 min: Kike sends the decibels soaring with a jinking run down the right, and he’s unlucky not to be given a freekick after appearing to be shoved over as he tried to enter the Ghanaian box. No risk of the ref being seen as a homer, as this point. |
| Updated | |
| at 7.24pm GMT | |
| 7.10pm GMT | |
| 19:10 | |
| 11 min: Afful flies down the right and curls a delicious ball into the centre. Appiah makes a stab for it but can’t connect due to pressure from the home defence. | 11 min: Afful flies down the right and curls a delicious ball into the centre. Appiah makes a stab for it but can’t connect due to pressure from the home defence. |
| 7.09pm GMT | |
| 19:09 | |
| 9 min: Ghana create a clear shooting chance for the first time, Jordan Ayew teeing up his brother Andre. But Zarandona stretched out a leg to poke the ball away with a brilliant tackle just as the elder Ayew tried to fire into the net from 14 yards. | 9 min: Ghana create a clear shooting chance for the first time, Jordan Ayew teeing up his brother Andre. But Zarandona stretched out a leg to poke the ball away with a brilliant tackle just as the elder Ayew tried to fire into the net from 14 yards. |
| 7.08pm GMT | |
| 19:08 | |
| 7 min: After a long bout of ineffective Ghana possession, Equatorial Guinean gave a demonstration of the danger they carry. They intercepted a sloppy Ghanaian pass and then hurtled forward at jarring speed. If the cross to Iban Edu had been better placed, Ghan acould have been punished. BUt it went behind the midfielder and ran to Balboa, whose mis-hit his acrobatic attempted half-volley. | 7 min: After a long bout of ineffective Ghana possession, Equatorial Guinean gave a demonstration of the danger they carry. They intercepted a sloppy Ghanaian pass and then hurtled forward at jarring speed. If the cross to Iban Edu had been better placed, Ghan acould have been punished. BUt it went behind the midfielder and ran to Balboa, whose mis-hit his acrobatic attempted half-volley. |
| 7.05pm GMT | |
| 19:05 | |
| 4 min: Ghana are trying to establish their superiority early on, controlling possession and forcing the hosts to run around after them. | 4 min: Ghana are trying to establish their superiority early on, controlling possession and forcing the hosts to run around after them. |
| 7.03pm GMT | |
| 19:03 | |
| 2 min: There is no lack of vim from the hosts early doors but their yearning to impress has already led to some ill-timed challenges. From one freekick Wakaso launches the ball into the box and Ovono has to scamper off his line to punch it clear before Appiah can get his head to it. | 2 min: There is no lack of vim from the hosts early doors but their yearning to impress has already led to some ill-timed challenges. From one freekick Wakaso launches the ball into the box and Ovono has to scamper off his line to punch it clear before Appiah can get his head to it. |
| Updated | |
| at 7.04pm GMT | |
| 7.00pm GMT | |
| 19:00 | |
| 1 min: It’s on! | 1 min: It’s on! |
| 6.58pm GMT | |
| 18:58 | |
| Stumble? Nah, Robert Mugabe was just rehearsing his goal-scoring celebration ... | Stumble? Nah, Robert Mugabe was just rehearsing his goal-scoring celebration ... |
| Go Ghana, Go Black Stars... Tripping to the top 💃💃💃💃💃 pic.twitter.com/vJa3c44ltG | Go Ghana, Go Black Stars... Tripping to the top 💃💃💃💃💃 pic.twitter.com/vJa3c44ltG |
| 6.55pm GMT | |
| 18:55 | |
| Ghana’s anthem booms out around the ground and their players stand to their attention with their hands on their hearts. That is followed by the Equatoguinean tune, which is accompanied lustily by the vast majority of the people in the stadium, creating a noise befitting the National Thunder. | Ghana’s anthem booms out around the ground and their players stand to their attention with their hands on their hearts. That is followed by the Equatoguinean tune, which is accompanied lustily by the vast majority of the people in the stadium, creating a noise befitting the National Thunder. |
| 6.48pm GMT | |
| 18:48 | |
| So as you can see from the line-ups, Gyan is not fit enough to play, meaning Kewsi Appiah starts instead. Can he crown his improbable rise from League Two by scoring the goal that puts his country into the final? | So as you can see from the line-ups, Gyan is not fit enough to play, meaning Kewsi Appiah starts instead. Can he crown his improbable rise from League Two by scoring the goal that puts his country into the final? |
| 6.05pm GMT | |
| 18:05 | |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Welcome to the second Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, which will decide who will face Ivory Coast on Sunday for the chance to be crowned continental champions. The Black Stars of Ghana are the red hot favourites, but ruling out Equatorial Guinea would be folly – and not only because they have already demonstrated an inability to overcome being literally ruled out (they were, you see, ejected from the tournament in the qualifying rounds for fielding an ineligible player, but were then re-admitted as emergency hosts after Morocco pulled out). | Welcome to the second Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, which will decide who will face Ivory Coast on Sunday for the chance to be crowned continental champions. The Black Stars of Ghana are the red hot favourites, but ruling out Equatorial Guinea would be folly – and not only because they have already demonstrated an inability to overcome being literally ruled out (they were, you see, ejected from the tournament in the qualifying rounds for fielding an ineligible player, but were then re-admitted as emergency hosts after Morocco pulled out). |
| The Equatoguineans may be ranked 118th in the world but they have shown surprising quality in this tournament, whether through goalkeeper Felipe Ovono or flamboyant attackers including Javier Balboa, Kike and Iban. And while the hosts were so enraged by refereeing decisions against them in the early rounds that they dispatched a bitter letter of protest to the Confederation of African Football, they benefitted from a preposterous penalty award in their quarter-final win over Tunisia, one of the decisions that resulted in the referee being suspended for six months. All of which means that today’s refereeing performance will be a factor worth studying. | The Equatoguineans may be ranked 118th in the world but they have shown surprising quality in this tournament, whether through goalkeeper Felipe Ovono or flamboyant attackers including Javier Balboa, Kike and Iban. And while the hosts were so enraged by refereeing decisions against them in the early rounds that they dispatched a bitter letter of protest to the Confederation of African Football, they benefitted from a preposterous penalty award in their quarter-final win over Tunisia, one of the decisions that resulted in the referee being suspended for six months. All of which means that today’s refereeing performance will be a factor worth studying. |
| The performance of Avram Grant will also be subjected to much scrutiny. The appointment of the former Chelsea boss as Ghana manager just a few weeks before the tournament did not exactly spark jubilation and his team’s displays have been patchy despite their progress to the last four. A suspicion lingers that the Black Stars have made it this far despite a slightly malfunctioning team, thanks to the fine compensating form of individuals such as Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu and Asamoah Gyan, the last of whom is a doubt for this match because of injury. | The performance of Avram Grant will also be subjected to much scrutiny. The appointment of the former Chelsea boss as Ghana manager just a few weeks before the tournament did not exactly spark jubilation and his team’s displays have been patchy despite their progress to the last four. A suspicion lingers that the Black Stars have made it this far despite a slightly malfunctioning team, thanks to the fine compensating form of individuals such as Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu and Asamoah Gyan, the last of whom is a doubt for this match because of injury. |
| You won’t catch me offering a prediction for this match. Because anything could happen. Let’s just kick back and enjoy. | You won’t catch me offering a prediction for this match. Because anything could happen. Let’s just kick back and enjoy. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.08pm GMT | |
| 5.09pm GMT | |
| 17:09 | |
| Teams: | Teams: |
| Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Evuy, Mbele, Rui, Ruben, Kike, Ivan, Ellong, Balboa, Iban Edu, Nsue | Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Evuy, Mbele, Rui, Ruben, Kike, Ivan, Ellong, Balboa, Iban Edu, Nsue |
| Subs: Embela, Engonga, Juvenal, Randy, Fabiani, Bolado, Bohale, Charly, Angel, Ganbet, Mosibe | Subs: Embela, Engonga, Juvenal, Randy, Fabiani, Bolado, Bohale, Charly, Angel, Ganbet, Mosibe |
| Ghana: Razak, Afful, Boye, Mensah, Rahman, Wakaso, Acquah, Atsu, J Ayew, A Ayew, Appiah | Ghana: Razak, Afful, Boye, Mensah, Rahman, Wakaso, Acquah, Atsu, J Ayew, A Ayew, Appiah |
| Subs: Sowag, Gyna, Gyimah, Awal, Ageymang-Badu, Rabiu, Asante, Otoo, Amartey, Accam, Acheampong, Dauda | Subs: Sowag, Gyna, Gyimah, Awal, Ageymang-Badu, Rabiu, Asante, Otoo, Amartey, Accam, Acheampong, Dauda |
| Referee: E Otogo (Gabon) | Referee: E Otogo (Gabon) |
| Updated | |
| at 7.45pm GMT |