adminKUMASI. — A diving header from Abdul Majeed Waris and a thumping long range effort from Kwadwo Asamoah ensured a 2-1 win for Ghana over Zambia in their World Cup qualifier in Kumasi yesterday and top place in Group D. The Black Stars now join Algeria, Egypt and the Cote d’lvoire in the last phase of African qualifiers, where the 10 group winners will compete in five play-off matches over two legs next month and in November.
Ghana only needed a draw to thwart Zambia’s ambitions but took no chances with an attacking first half display crowned by Waris’ goal in the 17th minute as he bravely stooped in to tuck away a quick cross from John Boye.
Asamoah blasted home the second from 25 metres just after the hour mark to heap more misery on Zambia, who were always facing a difficult hurdle in an intimidating atmosphere as they sought an away victory to usurp top place.
Nathan Sinkala pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute.
The other six teams will be decided on Saturday and Sunday. Substitute Michael Essien came on to a rousing welcome from the crowd at the Baba Yaro Stadium despite having rebuffed call-ups to the Ghana side over the last two years.
Yesterday’s match was preceded by a series of accusations by Zambia of Ghanaian gamesmanship, including delaying their arrival by refusing landing rights for their charter plane and then denying them the chance to train at the venue on the eve of the game.
Ghana denied the allegations in statement on their football association website www.ghanafa.org before the match.
Ghana were the most successful African side at the last World Cup, losing on penalties against Uruguay in the quarter-finals. –
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) lashed out at its Zambian counterpart for the allegations of frustration levelled against them as the Chipolopolo faced travel problems.
The West African FA, ahead of yesterday’s World Cup qualifier, says the body “wishes to express its surprise at some unfortunate and blatantly untrue media reports in Zambia claiming that Ghana is frustrating their attempts to fly directly into Kumasi ahead of Friday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier.”
“The reports in the Zambian media also claim that the GFA ‘has refused to help Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and has also refused to help the advance delegation get the desired hotel and training ground in Kumasi’,” it goes on.
The GFA said it wanted “to state categorically that these reports are utterly false and wrongly impugn and smear Ghana’s outstanding hospitality record to visiting teams.”
So, why have there been reports from Zambia that the Ghanaian authorities have been dealing in underhand tactics to dissuade the Chipolopolo ahead of crucial qualifier on Friday?
The statement went on: “The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) had a request to land directly in Kumasi turned down by the aviation authorities in Ghana because the Kumasi Airport is not an international airport and it is also undergoing some rehabilitation works.
According to the GFA, “FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya was in constant touch with his Ghanaian counterpart Kwesi Nyantakyi throughout Wednesday to find a solution for Zambia to land directly in Kumasi but the aviation authorities stood their ground.”
“The solution for the Zambians is to arrive in Accra while we help sort out comfortable travel arrangements for them to Kumasi,” the statement urges.
“A direct flight to Accra will be in accordance with the FIFA rule which requires them to fly to the capital city of the hosts, in this case Ghana.”
The Black Stars’ handlers say that their Zambian rivals have been uncooperative for a long time.
“We wish to state that over the past two months the GFA has constantly and consistently availed itself to the Zambians to help make their arrival and stay in Ghana smooth,” the FA revealed.
“Despite constant reminders for the past one month from the Protocol Department of the GFA over their travel plans, FAZ repeatedly refused to divulge details of their travel plans even as late as Wednesday morning.”
“Our quest to help them secure good hotels in Kumasi also hit the brick wall as they preferred to work on their own plans to secure good accommodation instead.”
“Despite all these the GFA is still on the standby to help the Zambian national football team get a smooth arrival and comfortable stay in Ghana but the GFA takes issue with the malicious manipulating of the truth.” And then the Ghana FA lashes out, saying that “this is a calculated attempt by the Zambian media to taint Ghana football to the world through the crude tactic of blemishing the facts.”
The countries face off in a crunch tie at 1600GMT on September 6. — Reuters.
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