Good evening and welcome to the live text coverage of the Group G encounter between Ghana and Ethiopia at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Ghana is starting its campaign in the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament tonight.
Drawn in Group G of the African qualifiers, the national team nicknamed the Black Stars are scheduled to face the likes of South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.
With the qualifying campaign kicking off for Ghana today, the national team of the West Africa country will at 19:00GMT play host to the Walia ibex at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Although the opponent is expected to stage a strong challenge, Ghana is still tipped to run away with the maximum three points at the end of the 90 minutes.
Ahead of kickoff, Ghana head coach CK Akonnor has named a strong squad that has goalkeeper Richard Ofori in post.
A potent defensive back four has Daniel Amartey and Alexander Djiku paired as the centre backs.
Meanwhile, Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan Ayew have been selected for the attack as well as Kamaldeen Sulemana.
🗒 | The team for this evening's #WCQ against Ethiopia, kick off: 7pm.
🇬🇭 v 🇪🇹 #WCQ2022 #BlackStars #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/dDCBof5XYe
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) September 3, 2021
In the next hour, a crowd of over 2,000 spectators will watch the Black Stars of Ghana in action against Ethiopia.
Before the storm, the Cape Coast Stadium is calm, with the bright floodlights working together with the stars in the skies to give the green turf the needed touch as it awaits 90 minutes of soccer action from two teams contesting for three points to lead Group G of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
🏃🏽♂️| WARM-UP DONE
🇬🇭 v 🇪🇹 #WCQ2022 #BlackStars #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/mpF3FaIV5N
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) September 3, 2021
Kick-off:
1’ And we are off at the Cape Coast Stadium with Ghana kicking us off in front of over 2,000 fans. Who gets to score the first goal?
2’ First attack from Ghana not fruitful. Ethiopia awarded a goal kick.
5’ Free-kick in a dangerous position got the BLack Stars. Wakaso takes but his execution is poor. Goal kick to Ethiopia.
7’ Kamaldeen Sulemana shows his brilliance to initiate an attack for Ghana. Andy Yiadom is left with acres of space to deliver a cross but good defensive work from the Ethiopians calms the danger.
11’ Andre Ayew wins a free kick for Ghana in a very dangerous position. It’s Jordan Ayew on set piece duty this time around.
12’ Andre Ayew heads in the cross but it’s blocked. Shouts for a penalty kick but the referee will have none of that.
15' We have done quarter of an hour at the Cape Coast Stadium. So far Ethiopia has been able to stand the might of the Black Stars. Still goalless!!!
19' It's been an eventual outing for Ghana but still nothing to show on the scoresheet.
22' Injury Alert: Jeffrey Schlupp is down and appears in pain. The Ghana attacker limps off with the help of the medial team. Big blow!! The Crystal Palace man will come off.
25' Chance: Baba Rahman burst into the 18 area of Ethiopia but his cut-back cross is well dealt with by the defense of teh Ethiopians.
27' The resulting corner kick is wasted.
28' CHANGE: The injured Jeffrey Schlupp is replaced by Daniel Kofi Kyereh who officially makes his debut for the Ghana national team. Huge expectations!!!
30' We are 15 minutes away from the first half break. So far so good for the Black Stars but still goalless.
31' Ethiopia comes forward but a feeble cross is easily gathered by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
33' Jordan Ayew wins possession in the half of the visitors, goes past his marker but is eventually brought down. Free kick for Ghana. Jordan Ayew takes but the Ethiopian goalkeeper produces a very good save.
35' GOAL!!!!!! Mubarak Wakaso produces magic out of nothing. A long range shot hilariously beats the Ethiopian goalkeeper. A let down gives Ghana a deserved lead for the team's efforts.
37' Free kick for Ethiopia in a dangerous position. Dangerously taken but goalkeeper Richard Ofori has time to gather a dropped ball after a shaky save from the initial kick. Game continues.
40' Loud shouts for a penalty kick as Jordan Ayew goes down in the Ethiopia box. Debatably there was contact but the referee waves play on.
45’ We will do a minute of additionally time. Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia
Halftime: The referee whistles for the end of the first half. We are back after 15 minutes with live text commentary of the second half.
📷 | So far so good 😊
🇬🇭 1-0 🇪🇹 #WCQ #BlackStars #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/DRQJC4u89L
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) September 3, 2021
46' We are back for the second half of this evening's contest. It is Ethiopia kicking us off for the second 45 minutes.
49' Injury scare for Ghana as Daniel Amartey complains of a harmstring. He stays down for a while but is good to continue.
54' Chance: Andre Ayew combines with brother Jordan Ayew who is unable to fire in a first time shot. His first touch let him down there.
57' Chance!! Ethiopia pushes forward and for the first time in the second half sends fires a shot at goal. It is a goal kick.
60' Ghana still enjoying the lion's share of possession but all advances have been well dealt with by the defense of the Ethiopians.
65' Daniel-Kofi Kyereh tries his effort from distance. Over the bar for a goal kick.
68' Changes: Kamaldeen Sulemana makes way for Yaw Yeboah. Mubarak Wakako also out, Emmanuel Lomotey in.
73' Chance for Ghana to increase the lead but a double save from the Ethiopia goalkeeper keeps the ball out. Good effort from substitute Yaw Yeboah.
75' Injury scare for Ghana as captain Andre Ayew goes down. He will be checked by the medical team as the game goes on.
76' Jordan Ayew break for Ghana, takes on one man, twice, not third time lucky with Ethiopia winning back possession.
80' The tempo of the game has slowed down a bit in the last 10 minutes of the game. Will there be a way back for the Walias or Ghana will increase its lead?
90' We have exhausted the entire regulation minutes. The fourth official signals three minutes of added time.
Full Time: Ghana holds on to take a nervy narrow win at home. A good start, despite the unimpressive performance. Do have a goodnight!!!