Cameroon Take Advantage Of Depleted Hosts
|
Cameroon was aided by the absence of several Ghana first team players to reach the final of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations.
The host nation had four regular players on the injury list while suspension to captain John Mensah forced the Black Stars to play Michael Essien in the centre of defence.
Italy-based striker Asamoah Gyan's injury left Junior Agogo as the only forward for the host nation in the first-half leaving coach Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy to an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation.
The French coach's formation failed to click as Alexandre Song and Stephane Mbia, at the heart of the Cameroon, had the better of Ghana's midfield marshalled by Anthony Annan and Sulley Muntari.
The ruthless physical approach by the Indomitable Lions in the midfield allowed Achille Emana and Mohamadou Idrissou to join Samuel Eto'o in attack, causing some anxious moments for the home fans.
Any attempts by lone striker Agogo was effectively dealt with by Andre Bikey and veteran Rigobert Song in the defence of Cameroon.
Arsenal youngster Song operated effectively in midfield and clipped in for Eto'o but only a quick intervention by Ghana keeper Richard Kingson prevented the Barcelona striker from opening the scoring.
Emana missed a good scoring opportunity four minutes later when Essien failed in a desperate attempt to clear allowing the Cameroonian to hit for 20 yards which missed the target by inches.
Geremi's 35-yard free-kick hit the crossbar as Cameroon continued to press forward.
But it was not one-way traffic. Andre Ayew, who replaced Laryea Kingston four minutes before kick off, managed to make light work of Rigobert Song and Bikey before Carlos Kameni held firmly.
Le Roy changed tactics after the break by bringing on Baffour Gyan to support Agogo and that proved somewhat effective as the home side turned the screw on their opponents with incessant forays into the Lions area.
Otto Pfister also made changes to his giving Alain Nkong his first Indomitable Lions game in eights years while Joel Epalle came in for Desire Job.
But Ghana eventually paid for the attacking second-half display as a quick counter attack on 70 minutes initiated by Epalle found Eto'o before the Barcelona striker set up Nkong, who angled in a low shot to the far post to give Lions the victory.
Ghana pushed forward with Agogo heading wide from three yards out with Kameni beaten while Ahmed Barusso's late free-kick went well wide.
Cameroon will go into the final without Bikey after the Reading defender was sent off for pushing a medical staff but that did not prevent the Indomitable Lions from wild celebrations.
"We waited and waited and we hit them on the break," Nkong said. "In the end it was our mental strength that got us through. We were criticised so much after the first match. Every match has been a final for us since."
Le Roy, who coached Cameroon to win the tile in 1988, blamed his side's defeat on the absence of several key players.
"I've been sad sometimes in my career but nothing like today. We were set to play in the final and win it, now all we have to look forward to is the third-place play-off. I'm sorry for the fans," Le Roy said
"This game was very difficult to prepare for. I had John Mensah out suspended, then yesterday Asamoah Gyan said he couldn't play, and then 15 minutes before kick-off Laryea Kingston gets injured. So many things in such a short time."
Cameroon will play Egypt in the final while Ghana takes on Cote d'Ivoire in the third place playoff.
