Ghana edge Congo in CHAN 2014 opener

Ghana opened their 2014 African Nations Championship account with a 1-0 win over tournament debutants Congo at Free State Stadium on Monday.

The Black Stars prevailed courtesy of Man of the Match Theophilus Anobaah's 35th minute deflected strike.

Group C rivals Libya and Ethiopia will face each other at the same venue tonight, with kick-off at 20h00.

In the early game, both sides started with youthful strikers with 18-year old Sulley Mohammed starting up front for Ghana and 17-year old Red Devils starlet Bersyl Ngatsongo Obassi spearheading Congo’s attack.

From the onset it seemed as if the small crowd were in for an exciting encounter as both teams pushed forward in search of the opener.

Ngatsongo’s beaming effort in the fourth minute went narrowly wide of Stephen Adams right hand post.

Yahaya Mohammed and Nuru Sulley then went close for the Black Stars in quick succession.

First Congo shot-stopper Gildas Mouyaki made a good stop to keep out Mohammed’s powerful effort before Sulley’s scuffed shot from close range bounced just wide of the upright.

Ghana though broke the deadlock just psat the half-hour mark through Anobaah. The midfielder's tame effort hit Congo captain Kevine Andzouana before looping over the helpless Mouyaki and into the net.

The Red Devils pressed forward in search of the equaliser before the break and came very close to doing so in quick succession.

First Lorry Nkolo struck the post from point blank range before Boris Ngounga failed to hit the target with an open goal at his mercy.

In contrast to the first stanza, the second half got off to sluggish start with both teams surrendering possession frequently.

When there was an attempt at goal it was weak or horribly miscued.

Congo desperately went in search of the equaliser in the dying moments but were unable to break down an organised Ghanaian outfit.