Qatar 2022…Black Stars Restore Qualification hope

Story: News DESK  

A first half free kick from Thomas Partey was enough to see off Zimbabwe as Ghana climbed to the summit of Group G in the World Cup qualifiers.

Having lost the reverse fixture 3-1, Zimbabwe needed results from this game to keep their feint hopes of qualification alive.

The Warriors started as the better team and forced the Black Stars to make mistakes.

Kamaldeen Sulemana came closest in the early exchanges after his feeble near post effort was parried away.

Thomas Partey stepped up to power a free kick from about 25 yards past the Zimbabwe goalkeeper after Baba Rahman was fouled.

Ghana settled after the goal and came close to a second when Daniel Amartey’s low effort was cleared off the line.

The Black Stars managed the second half and created half chances as Mohammed Kudus’ effort from range hit the crossbar.

The win sends Ghana to nine points as they climb above South Africa, who play Ethiopia later today.

Before the Black Stars flew for Harare, head coach Milovan Rajevac told his team that “everything is in their own hands.”

The victory against Zimbabwe affirms that stance as the Black Stars are now in pole position to qualify out of Group G.

If the four-time Africa Cup of Nations champions win their final two games against Ethiopia and South Africa, they will qualify from the group.

Ghana’s hopes of qualifying took a hit after an abysmal performance against South Africa which saw the team concede a late goal.

CK Akonnor was relieved off his duties after that defeat and the Ghana Football Association re-appointed Rajevac.

The Serbian, who calls Ghana his second home, took charge of the team he led to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals and has worked wonders thus far.

The team won a friendly game against lower tier side Soccer Intellectuals 8-0 before beating Zimbabwe 3-1 in Ghana.

Rajevac made a bold decision of dropping Captain Andre Ayew for the return fixture against Zimbabwe, a decision which paid off after the Black Stars picked up a narrow win.

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