Ghana qualified for the playoff round after defeating South Africa by 1-0 at the Cape Coast Stadium to finish first in Group G on goal difference.
The Black Stars got off to a good start, stringing passes together, but the South Africans were well-organized at the back, minimising the pressure.
After nine minutes, Bafana Bafana made their first incursion, with Nyiko Mobbie sending a long pass to Victor Letsoalo, who fouled Daniel Amartey in the process.
The Ghanaians were handed a major blow when Ajax Star Kudus Mohammed was injured in the 12th minute and was immediately replaced with Daniel Kofi-Kyereh.
Jordan Ayew was sent through on the 14th minute, cutting in from the right, but was stopped by an opponent, resulting in a corner kick.
Iddrisu Baba set up Kofi-Kyereh with a superb mirror pass, but he could not convert his initial attemptSiyanda Xulu cut out Mubarak Wakaso’s third consecutive weak corner kick, resulting in a squandered South African counter-attack.
In the 31st minute, Ghana secured another corner and Kofi-Kyereh unleashed a long one that eluded everyone only for Daniel Amartey to be pulled down by Rushine De Reuck in an attempt to connect and Senegalese referee Ndiaye Maguette pointed to the penalty spot. Andre Ayew stepped up and scored from the spot for the opener.
Ghana needed a win and Ghana won. That was the only condition for Milovan Rajevac’s men going into the match.
The Al Sadd winger scored that awaited goal and the Black Stars managed to keep that short advantage until the full-time.
Ghana is now 90 minutes away from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after missing out on the Russia World Cup where all of the African representatives were knocked out in the group stages.
