HT: Burkina Faso 0-0 Ghana
The opening 45 minutes in the 3rd Place playoff between Ghana Black Stars and Burkina Faso remains 0-0 on a dampened Port Gentil turf, following the earlier rains.
Ghana Black Stars with a largely changed line-up from the side that fell to Cameroon in the semifinals has looked the hungrier side thus far.
Led by skipper of the day Agyeman Badu in absence of usual captains Andrew Ayew and Asmoah Gyan, who started on the bench, Ghana has enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball possession.
Inside the opening 60 seconds of the game, Badu had a well laid ball to Thomas Teye who instead handled the ball for Ghana first threat at goal
It was Badu again with a free-header off right back Andrew Yiadom’s delivery in the second minute.
Burkina Faso steadily clawed back to the game. Gangly forward Aristide Bance threatened with a deflected shot for a corner after 17 minutes.
Two minutes later, it was Ghana again with right back Samuel Tetteh cross’s from missing contact with skipper Badu.
The Black Stars then won their opening two corners of the half in succession.
The first came in the 24th minute that witnessed Jordan Ayew’s curling delivery finding a totally an unmarked Bernard Tekepetey. The FC Schalke forward had a tap to the ball but it hit the bar and Koffi parried it out for the second corner.
In the 36th minute, Niguimbe Nakoulma who has been silent forced a corner after a solo raid.
Nakoulma almost buried the half for Burkina Faso with a quick counter attack but shot wide after a clever run and break effort.
The fan of the match picked by CAF is a one Joseph from Ghana.
The struggle for the two teams continue with the second half.
Team Line ups:
Burkina Faso XI: Herve Koffi Kouakou (G.K), Steeve Farid Yago, Bakary Kone, Prejuce Nakoulma Niguimbe, Alain Traore Sibiri, Issoufou Dayo, Aristide Bance, Charles Kabore (Captain), Bertrand Isidore Traore, Yacouba Coulibaly, Ibrahim Blati Toure
Subs: Babayoure Sawadogo (G.K), Issouf Paro, Patrick Malo, Bakary Sare, Abdou Traore, Banou Diarwara, Souleyman Koanda, Jonathan Zongo, Cyrille Bayala, Moussa Sanou, Jonathan Pitropia (Injured)
Ghana XI: Richard Ofori (G.K), Andrew Kyere Yiadom, Jonathan Mensah, Thomas Teye Partey, Emmanuel Badu Agyeman (Captain), Jordan Pierre Ayew, Bernard Tekpetey, Ebenezar Ofori, Daniel Amartey, Samuel Tetteh, Harrison Afful
Subs: Razak Brimah (G.K), Asamoah Gyan, Afriyie Acquah, Christian Atsu Twasam, Andre Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Ebenezar Assifuah, Abdual Fatawu Dauda, Abdul Rahman Baba, Edwin Gyimah, John Boye, Frank Opoku Acheampong
Head Coach: Abraham Grant
Match Officials:
Center Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
1st Assistant Referee: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
2nd Assistant Referee: Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)
4th Official: Youssef Essrayri (Tunisia)
Commissioner: Juneidi Tilmo (Ethiopia)
General Commissioner: Samson Adamu (Nigeria)
