… as they whallop Egypt 6-1 and hit 22 qualifying goals
Ghana Black Stars put up an amazing performance at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Tuesday October 15, 2013 when they hosted and recorded the highest goals over Egypt, the seven times African champions.

The biggest win between the two nations was when Egypt won by 5-1 over Ghana in an Olympics Games encounter on 18 October 1964, so now the Head-to-head records stand at seven wins for Ghana, losing 10 and drawing 5. Ghana has scored 28, conceded 32 over Egypt.

But on the day that Ghanaians had expected a goal harvest, it was not surprising when Ghana’s captain Asamoah Gyan found an early goal to make the Pharoahs unstable. He was on target again in the second half to increase his most goals for Ghana and his inspiration brought out the best in his collegues, especially, Majeed Warris, Sulley Muntari and Christain Atsu who found their names on the score sheet. Defenders Samuelk Inkoom and Daniel Opare were tough to beat, Rashid Sumaila showed a bit of inexperience but was solid like Jerry Akaminko whilst Andre Ayew was superb passing the global leather on time and the experience of Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien was on display richly.

By this first leg defeat of Egypt, Ghana now has 22 goals for and three against in the build up to Brazil 2014.

Skipper Asamoah Gyan is the highest scorer at six goals and it is just fantastic that other players are scoring and the days of one – goal project is over. Thanks to coach Kwesi Appiah who is on the road to become the first black man or Ghanaian to take Ghana to the FIFA World Cup.

Kwesi Appiah warned that it is not time to celebrate until they have traveled to Egypt for the return leg and beaten them again to complete the qualifiers, but most Ghanaians have seen it as a done deal and for sure Ghana would be among the top 32 countries for the 2014 World Cup to be staged in Brazil.

One factor that motivated the Black Stars to put up thye scintillating show was the inspirational visit to the training grouds of the Black Stars by the President John Mahama and the visit to the palace of the Asantrhene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II whose words of encouragement richly influenced the game, not to forget the financial promise of the major sponsor of the team, Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) and the support of Ghanaians led by the minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and the Ghana Supporters group.

The Ghanaian media must also be congratulated for playing their roles very well in informing, educating, entertaining and transforming the football public.

Ghana have qualified for two FIFA World Cup tournaments; 2006 and 2010. In 2006 they were the only African side to advance to the Second Round of 2006 FIFA World Cup and were the sixth nation in a row from Africa to progress beyond the group stages of the World Cup. Ghana had the youngest team in the FIFA World Cup 2006 with an average age of 23 years and 352 days, and were praised for their improving performance. FIFA ranked Ghana 13th out of the 32 countries who competed in the tournament. In the 2010 World Cup Ghana progressed beyond the group stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and reached the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Uruguay. Ghana were defeated by Uruguay on penalties after Luis Suárez controversially handballed on the goal line deep into extra time, denying Ghana an almost certain winning goal. Had Ghana won their quarter final they would have become the first African nation to progress to the semi finals of the world cup. Of the 32 countries that participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA ranked Ghana 7th.

2014 in Brazil would be another new experience and the feeling would be wonderful as Ghana aims to be the first African nation to win the FIFA World Cup if Brazil does not win.

How the Stars fared against the Pharoahs of Egypt:

Goal keeper Fatau Dauda – 6pts

Samuel Inkoom – 8pts

Daniel Opare – 8pts

Rashid Sumaila – 6pts

Jerry Akaminko – 7pts

Michael Essien -7pts

Kwadwo Asamoah – 7pts

Asamoah Gyan – 9.5pts

Majeed Warris – 8pts

Andre Ayew – 7pts

Sulley Muntari – 8pts

Wakaso Mubarak – 6pts

Agyeman Badu – 6pts

Christian Atsu – 8pts

Coach Kwesi Appiah – 9pts

Ghana Football Association – 9pts

Ghanaian Football Fans – 9pts