Black Stars of Ghana risk missing out of Qatar 2022 World cup, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Ethiopia
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ghana needed a victory away in Ethiopia on Thursday to make the final home game in Group G between them and the group leader, South Africa, less herculean.
But the Black Stars could not hold on to their lead in Ethiopia. After taking the lead through Andre Ayew in the 22nd minute, they were pegged back in the 72nd minute by Getaneh Kebede.
Meanwhile, Tebobo Mokoena’s 26th-minute goal handed South Africa a precious 1-0 victory against Zimbabwe, as they inched closer to Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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After a cagy start, Bafana Bafana finally got the lead against their neighbors, when Mokoena nodded down a ball brilliantly across the face of the goal to the far post off a well-weighted Keegan Dolly cross from the right.
The results of the two games in Group G mean South Africa maintained leadership of the group with 13 points and +5 goal difference, while Black Stars are on 10 points and +3 goals difference.
With one more game to play, the Black Stars of Ghana must now reverse the 1-0 head-to-head advantage the South Africans have over them, by defeating the visitors with two or more goals in Accra on Sunday, November 14.
South Africa on the other hand, need just a draw or a loss not more than 1-0 to move to the play-off round of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
In another game, Mali finished match day five with 13 points, attaining an unassailable four-point lead over second placed Uganda Cranes who they play in the last match day on Tuesday in Morocco.
Elsewhere, Senegal left it late before scoring an additional time goal to play out to a 1-1 draw with Togo and remain unbeaten in their group.
Senegal and Morocco were the first two African countries to qualify for play-off rounds after match day four played in October.
Super Eagles are expected to play against Liberia in Morocco on Saturday, November 13, before flying back to the country to take on their closest rival in the group, Cape Verde, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
