Ghana’s chances of reaching the final round of qualifiers of the 16th African Youth Championships got a massive boost following a crushing 5-1 win over Angola on Sunday.
Despite a few fans making it into the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, the Black Satellites gave their supporters something to cheer about when they rallied back from a goal down to win the game.
Ghana could have been at least two goals up before the 10th minute but the final ball always missed target.
Then, Angola drew first blood in the 12th minute from a close range effort after Ghana’s defence failed to react a spilled ball by goalkeeper, Joseph Addo, allowing Mario Querta to rifle in a shot into the roof of the net.
However, four minutes later, the Black Satellites were back level with Rabiu Mohammed poking in the equalizer.
The Black Satellites jumped into the lead five minutes later as Sadick Adams drove in a ferocious freekick from the edge of the box into the far post in the 21st minute.
Ghana did not give up their search for more goals afterwards as the Black Satellites kept on piling the pressure but had a Samuel Inkoom goal ruled out as an offside in the 27th minute.
But three minutes later, Ghana found target as captain, Ransford Osei headed in a cross from his strike partner, Sadick Adams to make 3-1 for the Black Satellites.
Then on the stroke of halftime, Abdul Ganiyu rifled in shot from inside the box after the cross by David Addy had found him at the far post.
The second half was nothing different from the first session with Ghana dictating holding onto the possession.
Ghana played a greater of the second half in the area of the Angolans but still struggled to score while their opponents occasionally used surged forward.
Black Satellites coach, Sellas Tetteh ringed the changes after bringing on Hans Cofie, Enoch Adu Poku and Isaac Donkor for Abdul Ganiyu, Rabiu Mohammed and Sadick Adams.
The changes brought some speed into the Ghana attack but had to wait until regulation time before scoring the fifth goal.
Substitute Isaac Donkor after twisting and turning his marker then found space on the left, laid a pace into the path of captain Ransford Osei to clip the ball over the Angolan goalkeeper.
And that goal proved to be the final kick of the game as Ghana head into the return leg scheduled for July 11-13 with a 5-1 advantage.
The Black Satellites might have missed out of the last edition of the African Championships but Sunday’s opening win in the qualifying campaign gives hope of a place in the finals of the Championship to be hosted by Rwanda in 2009.
Twenty-eight teams will battle each other for a place in the second round.
The winners after both legs qualify for the final round of the championships where seven teams would join the host nation, Rwanda for the Championship from January 18 to February 1, 2009.