Andre Ayew guides Ghana past Uganda – Africa Cup of Nations 2017

Group D

Ghana 1-0 Uganda

A needless penalty, conceded by Isaac Isinde and converted by Andre Ayew, was enough to set Ghana away, but their second-half performance will worry manager, Avram Grant.

Ghana started well enough, Asamoah Gyan missing two presentable headers after good right-wing crosses from Harrison Afful and Christian Atsu, and Ayew missing after mistiming his run to meet a cut-back from his brother, forcing his body into a left-footed shot and losing all power in the process.

With the chances flowing it was no great surprise when Ghana took the lead. Isinde pulled back Gyan just inside the box with no real danger imminent, he was booked, and Andre Ayew calmly tucked the penalty home.

Ayew celebrates after converting from the spot.

In the second half, though, Uganda had a real go, piling men forward and pumpint the ball forward in their direction. They could not, however, create any proper chances – their best of the game actually fell to Farouk Miya just before the break, who went for a near post gap rather than across goal when sent through by Geofrey Massa, with his shot squirting wide.

Ghana hung on and will be satisfied to begin the tournament with a win, but if they do not improve in quality and intensity they might still leave the competition at the end of the group stages.

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