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Finishing top of Group F at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations — courtesy a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Suez on Tuesday — wasn’t just a matter of pride for Ghana.
And while Jordan Ayew’s brilliant opener would have been enough to see the Black Stars through to the next round — as runner-up to Cameroon — the second goal from Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey could be remembered as the more valuable strike, should Ghana go all the way at the tournament.
The expansion of the Afcon into a 24-nation event meant that, even in the Round of 16, there would still be enough middleweights and lesser lights to ease the progress of some powerhouses even farther into the competition. Ghana finds itself as one of those beneficiaries, with the Stars taking the relatively easier path to the Cairo climax. Also in that lane are DR Congo, Morocco and Tunisia – boasting four titles between them — with Sadio Mane and his gang of highly rated Senegalese in tow. Madagascar, the giant-killing debutants, are further behind in the queue, while unfancied Uganda and Benin make up the number.
The Lions — of Teranga (Senegal) and of the Atlas (Morocco) — are expected to dispatch Uganda and Benin respectively, before potentially fighting each other to the death of one. The winner of that bout would have Ghana to face (July 14) — if the Stars themselves can overpower Tunisia on July 8 and the winner of the Madagascar-DR Congo tie three days later.
The other route appears weightier and harder to navigate. All but two teams in that section are previous winners — including four of the last five champions — who share an aggregate of 19 triumphs. But that needn’t concern Ghana — not now, anyway. Only if Kwesi Appiah’s charges reach the ultimate hurdle on July 19 would they have to contend with one of those.
Granted, there are barely any weak teams at the Afcon these days, and the competition only gets tougher from here. Still, Ghana would feel confident about its chances, taking the remainder of the road to glory a game at a time.
Sammie Frimpong — Daily Mail GH
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