Ghana 0 South Africa 0

Pictures From the Match The Black Stars played to another barren draw in their second match of the 23rd Cup of Nations tournament against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at Sagoe, Mali, on Thursday.

The result leaves the two teams on two points from two matches, just a point ahead of Burkina Faso and Morocco who play their second matches on Friday.

As in the first match against the Atlas lions of Morocco, the Black Stars failed to create chances even though they were able to contain the South Africans in mid-field.

Ironically it was the superlative form of Sammy Adjei again which kept the Stars in the game as the lanky Hearts of Oak goalie saved a first half penalty and denied the South Africans on three other occasions when they came very close.

At the other end, Michael Essien took a half chance in the 36th minute and powered a left footer, which hit the upright and bounced back into play while Johannes Vonk in goal for South Africa stood aloof in bewilderment.

The Black Stars strung accurate passes around after Essiens' effort and made the South Africans chase their shadows but the penetrating passes could not be delivered as the Bafana defence kept vigil and refused to come out.

Sammy Adjei came to the rescue again early in the second half when he sprawled to spike out a bullet from Sibusiso Zuma. Then at the other side Vonk struggled to save a tricky curling shot from Baffour Gyan.

Adjei grabbed another powerful effort from Delron Buckley and coach Osam Duodu reacted swiftly by pulling out Princeton Owusu Ansah for Amankwa Mireku and George Blay for John Paintsil.

Prince Amoako had earlier taken over from skipper Emmanuel Duah and the Russia based player became very well noticed when he blew a good chance over the top in the 87th minute.

John Paintsil produced a moment of magic when he waltzed through the South African defence on the ninetieth minute mark and centred but over elaboration and indecision on the part of the striker saved the Bafana from conceding a goal.

Razak Ibrahim was the icon in the Black Stars and Chief Festus Onigbinde, the Nigerian CAF technical instructor and former coach of the Super Eagles described him as ?a rising star who could set the African continent ablaze in the future.

Chief Onigbinde was full of praise for Michael Essien, Derek Boateng and John Mensah, describing them as very skilful players.

Mr Ben Koufie said the game went according to the plan of the coach because he succeeded in cutting out the South African attack. He said what remained was for the boys to convert one or two of the chances they created and the story would have been different, adding that “in modern football only few chances are created in matches but the ability to convert them makes a winsome team.” He assured Ghanaians back home that the team would qualify and move to the next round.

Ishmael Addo who had his first feel of a Nations Cup tournament said he was elated at the experience. He said he was sure the second match would be better for him and asked his fans to pray for him to enable him to score the goals that would move Ghana to the next round.

...another Version

SEGOU, Mali, Jan 24 (AFP) Quinton Fortune missed a penalty for South Africa as they drew 0-0 with Ghana in a drab African Nations Cup Group B encounter Thursday.

It was the third consecutive goalless draw at Amary Daou Stadium in the Group of Boredom with the next match between Burkina Faso and Morocco set for Saturday.

Ghana and South Africa have two points each and Burkina Faso and Morocco one and the spectre of the toss of a coin deciding which two teams qualify for the quarter-finals looms.

South Africa appeared to have ended the goal drought in this agricultural town north-east of the Malian capital, Bamako, after just two minutes when defender Aaron Mokoena headed home.

But Tunisian referee Mourad Daami, whose overall performance was superb on a blazing hot west African afternoon, disallowed the effort for no obvious reason and television replays suggested the goal should have been allowed.

Manchester United midfielder Fortune had an opportunity to make amends with 35 minutes gone, but his poorly struck, left-foot penalty kick was parried to safety by Sammy Adjei. The kick had been awarded when John Mensah handled.

A miserable game for Fortune, who has yet to stamp his authority in Bafana Bafana (The Boys) colours, continued soon after when he was cautioned for kicking the ball away when conceding a free kick.

And when coach Carlos Queiroz replaced him with dreadlocked Thabo Mngomeni one hour into the match, an afternoon of misfortune for Cape Town-born Quinton was complete.

Ghana had marginally more possession and gave South Africa a few late scares with Hans Vonk plucking a swerving Baffour Gyan shot out of the air before getting down to block Dereck Boateng.

Both teams lacked key players with injured striker and captain Shaun Bartlett out of the South African line-up while Ghana coach Fred Osam-Duodu sent home star defender Samuel Kuffour for 'real indiscipline' Tuesday.

It was the third Nations Cup clash between the countries after South Africa won 3-0 in Johannesburg six years ago and 1-0 in Ghana two years ago. Ghana have won the African title four times and South Africa once.

Ghana: Adjei, Mensah, Razak, Blay, Addo, Boateng, Duah (c), Gyan, Essien, Owusu-ansah, Amponsah.

South Africa: Vonk, Old-John, Mokoena, Issa, Carnell, Buckley, Fortune, Tinkler (c), Nomvete, Zuma, McCarthy.

Standings

 Ghana        2 0 2 0 0 0 2  
 South Africa 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 
 Burkina Faso 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 
 Morocco      1 0 1 0 0 0 1 
Remaining fixtures
 Jan 26 - Burkina Faso v Morocco, Segou 
 Jan 30 - Morocco v South Africa, Segou 
 Jan 30 - Burkina Faso v Ghana, Mopti 

Group winners and runners-up qualify for quarter-finals