Ghana down Zambia in FIFA World Cup qualifier

FILE PHOTO: Kwadwo Asamoah

Kumasi (Ghana) - Ghana inched closer to making a third consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance in Brazil next year with a 2-1 win over Zambia in the last Group D qualifying match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium here.

Abdul Majeed Waris put the ‘Black Stars’ ahead in the 17th minute before midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah doubled the scoreline (62nd minute) Friday. Zambia came back strongly to pull one back through Sinkala Nathan, who neatly connected home a corner (72nd minute), reports Xinhua.

The second half of the power-packed game played in front of over 35,000 vociferous fans was a ding-dong affair with the Zambians slightly on top. Both Zambia shot-stopper Kennedy Mwene and his Ghanaian counterpart Fatau Dauda made magnificent saves.

The win pushes Ghana to the final stage of the World Cup qualifying series where they will play a two-leg play-off for a place at next year’s finals in Brazil. Only 10 group winners in the African qualifiers advance to the final qualifying round whose draw will be made Sep 16 in Cairo.