Soccer News of Saturday, 24 January 2015

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Win over Algeria most stressful ever - Nyantakyi

Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi admits the win over Algeria on Friday was the most stressful game he has ever experienced with the Black Stars.

Ghana left it late to win the game against the tournament favourites courtesy a superb strike from half-fit captain Asamoah Gyan.

The winner came just when the game looked certain to end in a barren draw – which would have put Ghana’s progression from Group C at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations out of their hands.

The exceptional performance of the Black Stars backed by the last gasp goal of Asamoah Gyan now gives Avram Grant’s side a very good chance of picking one of the two quarter final qualification slots from Group C.

Ghanaians however had to wait until the final seconds of injury time to jubilate the winner having been put through the pains of near misses from both sides.

GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi says Friday’s win in Mongomo is the most stressful he had experienced with the Black Stars.

“To score two minutes into three minutes of extra time was miraculous,” he told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“The only game I can liken to this one was Ghana-Burkina Faso in 2005.

“We were down 1-0 in Kumasi until 65th minute when we scored the equalizer.

“But this one put us on tenterhooks for the entire duration of the match.

“It was really stressful, very very stressful.

“It could have ended either way, it could have even ended in a barren score or could have ended that we lost the game.

“But we won and we thank God for that.”

Ghana now goes into its final group game against South Africa on Tuesday high on confidence following the epic win over Algeria.

The Black Stars had a stuttering start to their campaign in Equatorial Guinea with a crashing 2-1 defeat to Senegal.

The Ghana team however appears to have completely shaken off that defeat and now look set to steamroll over opponents at the tournament.