On this day 31 January 1996(Exactly 23 years ago)
South Africa lined up to face Ghana in the semifinals of the Nations Cup. South Africa had already performed beyond expectations in their AFCON debut by progressing through a strong group and reaching the last four with a win over Algeria in the quarterfinals.
A powerful Black Stars outfit was expected to have too much firepower for Bafana to handle.
However, South Africa produced arguably their greatest performance since the return from international isolation, claiming a comprehensive 3-0 victory at a packed Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
South Africa 3 v 0 Ghana
Goals: John Moshoeu (22′, 87′
Shaun Bartlett (46′)
Africa Cup of Nations semifinal
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Dismissal: Lamptey 85′
Cautions: Tinkler 10′, Khumalo 89′; Johnson 9′
Ref.: Gamal El Ghandour (Egypt)
Att.: 75000
South Africa: Andre Arendse, Sizwe Motaung, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (Capt) Linda Buthelezi (John Moeti 76′), Eric Tinkler, Doctor Khumalo, John Moshoeu, Shaun Bartlett (Daniel Mudau 84′), Mark Williams. Coach: Clive Barker.
Ghana Line-up : S Addo, F. Amankwah, I. Asare, A. Dodoo, J Addo, S. Johnson, .Y. Acheampong (I. Tanko 63′), A. Kumah, C. Akunnor, K.Ayew (O. Lamptey 59′), T. Yeboah.
Coach: I. Kurtz
On this day 31 January 2000 (Exactly 19 years ago) African Nations Cup co-hosts Ghana scraped into the quarter-finals despite producing a nightmare performance in a 2-0 defeat against old rivals Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars went through on goal difference after all four teams in group A finished on four points following Togo’s 1-0 win over Cameroon, who nevertheless went through in top place.
Ivory Coast, who needed a three-goal win to qualify at Ghana’s expense, were eliminated as were Togo. Bonaventure Kalou put the Elephants ahead in first-half injury time before subsitute Donald-Olivier Sie scored in the 84th minute to set up a finale of almost unbearable tension for the home crowd.
Ghana – 1-Richard Kingston; 4-Samuel Kuffour, 15-Samuel Johnson, 5-Stephen Baidoo, 3-Emmanual Kuffour (6-Mohamed Gargo, 60); 8-Mark Edusei, 20-Otto Addo (7-Yaw Preko, 78), 21-Alex Nyarko, 10-Charles Akonnor; 9-Kwame Ayew, 11-Augustine Ahinful (17-Peter Ofori-Quaye, 61)
Ivory Coast – 1-Alain Gouamene; 6-Olivier Tebily, 5-Ghislain Akassou, 19-Dominique Sam Abouo; 7-Ibrahima Kone (9-Blaise Kouassi Koffi 90), 12-Serge Die, 13-Aliou Siby Badra, 14- Tchiressoa Guel, 15-Bonaventure Kalou; 11-Hamed Modibo Diallo (10-Ibrahima Bakayoko, 72), 20-Zepherine Zoko (21-Donald-Olivier Sie, 67)
On this day 31 January 2006 (Exactly 13 years ago) A lacklustre Ghana crashed out of the African Nations after defeat to Zimbabwe. An Issah Ahmed own-goal and a Benjani Nwaruwari strike put Zimbabwe 2-0 up with Baba Adamu getting a consolation for Ghana
Ghana: Sammy Adjel, John Pantsil, Gabriel Issah, John Mensah, Emmanuel Pappoe, Daniel Edusei, Abubakari Yakubu, Stephen Appiah, Haminu, Prince Tagoe/Baba Amandu, Joe Tex Frimpong
On this day 31 January 2010(Exactly 9 years ago) Egypt secured a record seventh Africa Cup of Nations title, after beating Ghana 1-0 in a tense final in Angola.
Substitute Mohamed Gedo scored the only goal of the game, playing a neat one-two before curling a superb shot past Richard Kingson in the 85th minute.
Gedo’s winner came against the run of play, but Milovan Rajevac’s young Ghana side failed to create many openings.
Gedo finished the tournament as the top scorer and Egypt became the first team to win three successive titles.
Ghana Line-up : Kingson, Addy, Inkoom, Sarpei, Vorsah, Annan, Andre Ayew, Agyemang (Addo 89), Asamoah, Agyemang-Badu, Gyan (Adiyah 87).
Subs Not Used: Adjei, Osei, Mensah, Narry, Amoah, Rahim Ayew, Afful, Draman, McCarthy.
Booked: Agyemang.
Egypt Line-up : El Hadary, El Mohamady, Said, Gomaa, Moawad (Abdelshafy 57), Fathi (Salem 89), Abd Rabou, Hassan, Ghaly, Zidan, Moteab (Gedo 70).
Subs Not Used: Abdoul-Saoud, Fathallah, El Sakka, Eid, Tawfik, Wahid, Shikabala, Raouf, Hamdy.
Booked: Moawad, El Mohamady, Ghaly.
Goals: Gedo 85.
Att: 45,000
Ref: Koman Coulibaly (Mali).
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
