Ghana opened the defence of their title with a solid victory, but had to wait until late on to claim the three points in Group B.

After coming close with several chances, Greece-based striker Derrick Boateng gave Ghana a deserving win against the side the Black Satellites played at the same stage of the competition two years ago in Accra.

Boateng, who played for Panathinaikos against Man Utd in the Champions League earlier this month, was on target in the 83rd minute after collecting a pass from midfielder Michael Essien to beat the advancing Angolan keeper Joao Mamona.

Ghana could have scored more goals if not for Mamona who was in excellent form.

Missed chances

He stopped Ishmael Addo after seven minutes and in the 34th kept out a fierce shot from inside the box by Addo's Hearts of Oak strike partner Charles Taylor.

Ghana's coach Emmanuel Afranie was left to count the missed chances.

"In the first half alone we had about seven chances which were messed up," Afranie said

"With the conditions here, I told them that they have to take their time. You could see they were in a hurry to score."

Ghana played with three strikers to pile the pressure on the Angolans.

Boateng, Addo and Taylor were in attack, while Angola had only the much talked-about Mantorras up front in a counter-attacking strategy.

Free-kick misses

Addo also shaved the base of the post in the first half with another effort.

Later in the first half and at brief stages in the second 45 minutes, the Angolan side pushed forward with more purpose.

Taking advantage of dead ball situations was also part of the junior Palancas Negras game plan but Portugal-based Antonio Mendonca shot wide with three free-kick attempts.

In the last minute, Domingos Henriques was denied as his diving header was ruled offside.

Ghana now lead the group after Nigeria and Mali drew blanks in the second group B match