Ghana beat host, set up final date with Cote d’Ivoire

Black Stars of Ghana beat Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in Thursday’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal and set up a date with 1992 conquerors the Elephant of Cote d’Ivoire.

Goals from Jordan Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, and Andre Ayew condemned the host to defeat who got to this stage after a controversial win over Tunisia in the quarter final.

With riot police protecting the players from angry home fans, Ghana advanced to the AFCON final.

Gabonese referee Eric Otogo-Castane halted the match in the 82nd minute and it resumed after about a 40-minute delay.

After Ghana scored a third goal in the second half, water bottles began to rain and the match was halted.

The Black Stars remained in the middle of the field until the restart, while some players from the host tried to pacify the frayed nerves of the angry fans.

Jordan Ayew gave Ghana the lead from the spot in the 42nd after Kewsi Appiah was brought down by goalkeeper Felipe Ovono on the edge of the box.

Mubarak made it 2-0 in injury time, collecting a pass from Christian Atsu in the area and beating opposing defender Ruben Belima before finding the net.

Some fans couldn’t take it any more and started throwing bottles at Ghana’s players as they attempted to head to the changing rooms. The Black Stars endured till the end.

And the stage is now set for the grand finale on Sunday with Ghana searching for the fifth title and Cote d’Ivoire their second.

Equatorial Guinea will face DR Congo in Saturday’s losers’ final.

Line-up

Ghana: R Braimah; H Afful, J Boye, Jona Mensah, B Rahman; C Atsu, A Acquah, M Wakaso, A Ayew; J Ayew, K Appiah

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono, Evuy, Mbele, Da Gracia, Kike, Zarandona, Ellong, Ivan Edu, Balboa, Belima, Nsue