Black Stars Swelter Over Madagascar But Delivers

Some might have discovered one of Africa’s rising stars, but that looked too abstract, perhaps on television or for those not present in the stadium where the attempt to rewrite the script in soccer was made.

The reality might have dawned on any sceptic who went to Kumasi to watch Madagascar. They were unrelenting on the famous Black Stars of Ghana in the entire game duration until the bubble burst one fine moment, the advantage to Ghana.

Finally, Inaki Williams scored his first goal for the Black Stars, and this is likely to mute some of the naysayers about the player who had come under enormous pressure after failing to find the net since his call-up about a year ago.

Inaki Williams did it in style, powerfully nodding the ball home with a header to a perfect cross by left-back Gideon Mensah. The watershed moment for the individual player loomed large on the stadium as it occurred in the last seconds of the match, sending the fans on a pyrrhic victory celebration.

For anybody who underrated Madagascar against Ghana, you saw the match and perhaps forced to scratch your head. The Islanders, who inscribed their name as one of the game’s tough customers the last time Egypt hosted the African Nations Cup, reasserted themselves in this big tie. They gave Ghana a good run for their money with an end-to-end action. The visitors had a goal ruled offside and also hit the goalpost.

Their attacking-mindedness was not simply an act of bravery but the domino effect of Africa’s latest football sensation and fairytale.

After a somewhat lethargic first half, the Black Stars of Ghana woke up to the militancy of their opponents and began to weather the storm with constructive football. Indeed, for all the period that the scores were barren, and there was anxiety in the home team, they did not disgrace themselves at all.

The Ghanaians admirably propelled the ball with acceleration and technique, but the end of their efforts fell through from near misses. And one of them would count, interestingly, in the very last moment when a determined run found Inaki, who proved accurate on the occasion.

Ghana’s West Ham player, Mohammed Kudus, proved he is the new star born to Ghana, with delectable footwork. He really proved his worth with quality but was also caught up in unlucky moments until the goal came from the source many had written off.