Soccer News of Saturday, 7 September 2013

Source: GNA

It was a special moment – Ayew

Andre Ayew is basking in the moments of playing in front of a massive crowd after the Black Stars pipped Zambia’s Chipolopolo 2-1 in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday.

Every space at the 40,000-plus stadium was filled as Ghanaians throng the arena to cheer the Stars who needed to avoid defeat to move to the final round of the qualifiers and Ayew says such moments make dying for the national cause a lot more worthy.

Ayew told GNA Sports in a post match interview "I am happy we won here today. It was a very important match to Ghana as a country and the stadium was very full. Such moment is always special and all you must do is to deliver for the fans who are here to encourage you.

"Everything worked as planned but there is more work to be done and we cannot get swollen-headed. It is important to be measured in our celebration because it's not over yet. We still have so much to do to get to Brazil."

Ayew was playing for the Stars for the first time this year following his temporary time off the national team after he was left out of Ghana’s squad that finished fourth at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Ghana sealed its place for the playoff of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a goal in each half from Abdul Majeed Warris and Kwadwo Asamoah put Ghana on course for victory before Nathan Sinkala grabbed a consolation for the visitors in the closing stages.

The win takes the Black Stars’ tally to 15 points, four more than the Chipolopolos, to move two games within a place of next year’s Mundial in Brazil.

Zambia, who needed a win to go through, gave the Stars some scary moments in the opening minutes, in what looked like a confirmation of their pre-match talks.

Ghana joins the likes of Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt and Algeria to confirm their places for the playoff. The draw will take place in Luxor, Egypt next week