Ghana enhanced its chances of reaching the ultimate round in the African Nations Championship qualifiers with a 2-0 win over neighbors, Togo at the Ohene Djan Stadium.
The Black Stars, playing at home scored a goal apiece in each half of the game to beat the Togolese in the first leg match of the first round fixture ahead of the return game in a fortnight.
Ghana seeking a place in the maiden competition to be hosted by Ivory Coast got both goals through Eric Bekoe and John Boye as the Black Stars maintained their winning run in the qualifiers.
Claude Le Roy and his team had to endure more than 29 worrying minutes as the search to hit the back of the Togolese net continued until the Black Stars were awarded a penalty after winger, Ekow Benson had been felled in the box.
Eric Bekoe, who had been seeking to open his goal account in a Ghana shirt since his debut for the senior team in March stepped up for the kick and the Asante Kotoko striker scored from the spot to secure his first goal after four games.
Ghana kept on pushing for more goals but the 30th minute goal from the spot kick separated both sides as the first half came to end.
The Black Stars’ second goal was delayed only three minutes into the second half, with John Boye delivering the important goal.
Playing against a resolute Togo backline, it had to take the aerial strength of John Boye to double Ghana’s lead as the defender registered his second goal in the qualifying campaign after nodding in the second for the Black Stars in the 48th minute.
The second half was nothing different from the first as the Togolese sat back and occasionally broke off on the counter.
Ghana failed to turn domination into goals with Eric Bekoe missing two clear chances while Baba Iddi also failed to find target.
With Togo serving a home ban for crowd troubles in the build to the Nations Cup qualifiers, the Hawks would relocate to a different venue away from home to host Ghana in the return fixture.
The second leg matches has been scheduled for 16-18 May. Ivory Coast will host the maiden edition from the February 22 to March 8, 2009.