Madagascar delay Ghana’s Afcon qualification
Madagascar held Ghana to a 0-0 draw in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group E match at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo on Sunday evening.
As a result, the Black Stars of Ghana remain at the top of the Group E standings and they will have to beat Central African Republic at home in September in order to qualify for the Afcon finals.
Barea, on the other hand, remain fourth on the Group E standings with their hopes of qualifying for the finals having faded away and they will be away to Angola in September this year.
The Black Stars started the match brightly with Thomas Partey dominating the midfield battle, but it was the home side who came closest to scoring on the half-hour-mark through Dorian Bertrand.
The Romania-based attacker burst into the Ghana box, but he hit the side-netting, and the first half which saw the Black Stars struggle to create clear-cut chances ended with two teams locked at 0-0.
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The two sides attacked each other after the restart and Partey came close to scoring as his well-taken free-kick was parried away by goalkeeper Razakanirina Rakotohasimbola in the 55th minute.
The last chance of the match fell to Ibrahim Amada in the 86th minute, but the substitute was well denied by keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi to ensure that the game ended in a goalless draw.
Madagascar 0
Ghana 0
Madagascar: Rakotoasimbola, Métanire, Boyer, Razafindraibeharimihanta, Rabarijaona, Manoelantsoa, Rakotoharisoa, Rafanomezantsoa, Bertrand, Randrianarijaona, Andriamatsinoro.
Ghana: Ati-Zigi, Odoi, Aidoo, Amartey, Kpozo, Samed, Partey, Sulemana, Paintsil, A. Ayew, J. Ayew.