Story: Jonathan Asante
Amidst all controversies before match day 5 of this AFCON qualifier match, the game was successfully brought to an end at the Ohene Gyan Sports stadium in one all game thriller.
Didn’t look the best the Black Stars could have managed, but with the Black Stars already qualified and the controversies before the match, it didn’t look so disappointing.
Former West Africa Football Academy youngster, now playing for Austrian club Liefering on loan from Red Bull Salzburg, Samuel Tetteh, scored his debut goal for the national team but his strike was not enough to secure victory for the Black Stars in their final AFCON qualifier against Rwanda.
The match saw Samuel Tetteh, David Accam, and Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey all given rare starts.
Rwanda’s caretaker coach, Jimmy Mulissa paraded a very strong side that had captain Harunna in the team and credit to his side they managed a draw.
Stand in skipper of the Blackstars, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu had the first chance of the game after a defence splitting pass from Italy based midfielder Alfred Duncan who was started in place of Mubarak Wakaso but Badu placed the ball high over the post.
The next opportunity was to Samuel Tetteh but his effort was very feeble and goalkeeper in post for Rwanda had a routine catch.
The deadlock was however broken in the 24th minute with Samuel Tetteh picking a ball on the edge of the penalty box, made the defenders before bending it past Rwanda goalkeeper Eric Ndayishimiye.
The first half ended with the black Stars leading with a lone goal but saw several opportunites to double their lead missed. Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Frank Acheampong and Alfred Duncan had a fair share of missed chances. The Rwandan side looked a bit naive in the first half but will come out very strong in the second half of proccedings.
The second half started with the Stars in control. Daniel Amartey and Alfred Duncan massing up spaces in the midfield. Baba Rahman made a brilliant run and was blocked at the edge of the box. Another set-piece hit over the bar by Agyemang Badu just two minutes after David Accam’s miss in the 56th minute.
Minutes later David Accam’s free kick was also nicely saved by the Rwandan goalie.
The Rwandans began to gain control of the game in the 70th minute and would be rewarded later in the game.
Samuel Tetteh had his turn to take a set-piece but his strike was punched away by Eric in post for the Rwanda. This would prove the difference as Rwanda’s number ten Hakizima Muhajiri pulled a stunning free-kick to level the score line for the his side in the 83rd minute
Daniel Amartey was replaced by Jordan Ayew in the 85th minute to try and secure a victory for the Stars but tried as they did but the Amavubi held on to secure a priceless 1-1 draw in Accra.
The 2017 AFCON qualifying campaign ended and with all six matches played, Ghana tops the group table with 14 points. Rwanda and Mozambique with 7 points each; Rwanda in 2nd place with goal difference. Bottom placed Mauritius managed to secure 6 points.
The tournament is sheculed to take plae in Gabon next year.