Ghana U-23 national team the Black Meteors recorded an impressive 4-0 win over Gabon in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games qualifier played at the Accra Sports stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A goal in each half f the game from Kwabena Owusu and second half substitute Bernard Tekpetey with a brace from Osman Bukari late on sealed the victory for Ghana.
The game started on a bright note for home side Ghana with striker Kwabena Owusu making a huge statement of intent in the opening minutes.
However it was the Gabonese who had the first real chance of the match when the Black Meteors back line failed to deal with long ball from the Gabon goalkeeper.
But Kwame Baah in post for Ghana combined with defender Musah Nuhh to make sure the home side don’t concede early.
Moment later, Owusu again found space in the Gabonese defend after some brilliant work from skipper Yaw Yeboah but the Striker’s goal bound shot was parried by the Gabon keeper for a corner kick.
The Levante man continued to be a torn in the flesh of the Gabonese and in the 20th minute, he broke the deadlock with a wonderful right foot curler into the left top corner.
Ghana continued to probe further for more goals in the opening half hour.
Musah Nuhu had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 but the defender failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy following some good work by striker Benjamin Tetteh to set him up.
The Gabonese meanwhile, looked far from been push overs as they also press on for the equalizer but the Ghana defense remained firm.
With the first half coming to an end, Gabon reminded Ghana of just how dangerous they can be on the counter when making a dfielder Ovono was put through on goal by his wing man only for his effort hit the upright.
Moment later Gabon had a chance from a free kick but Kwame Baah was at the right place to gather the ball. That proved to be the last bit of action of the first half as the Black Meteors went into the break a goal up.
Ghana coach Ibrahim Tanko made a half time substitution, bringing on Bernard Tekpetey for Benjamin Tetteh and just a minute into the restart, the substitute was left unmarked by the Gabonese Defence and his right foot shot went straight into the left corner for Ghana’s second.
25 minutes into the Second half, Ghana begun to search f or more goals to seal the game with chances coming the way of Tekpetey and Owusu but both men failed to make it count.
However, it didn’t take long for the the third goal to come. Osman Bukari the unlikely scorer with 79 minutes played.
Isaac Twum introduced into the game with 10 minutes left to play in place of Joseph Paintsil.
Bukari added his second and Ghana’s fourth of the afternoon with a fine solo effort following a drop ball by the Central African Republic referee.
Just a minute later, the brace scorer was stretched off injured and replaced by Richard Danso.
Kwabena Owusu had a chance to make it 5 nil for Ghana with the last kick of the match but he failed to score.
The Black Meteors will take a 4-0 aggregate lead into the second leg of the tie in Gabon.
The Black Meteors advanced to second round of the qualifiers after beating
Togo 5-1 in Kumasi and losing 1-0 away in Lome (5-2 aggregate).
The national U-23 side could face of the winner of the two-legged tie
between Equatorial Guinea or Algeria in the final round of the qualifiers.
Ghana is looking to make it to the next Olympic Games after missing out of
the competition since 2004.
The next Summer Olympics games will be staged in Tokyo, Japan.
Ghana starting XI:
Kwame Baah, Kingsley Fobi, Gideon Mensah, Musah Nuhu, Zakari Fuseini, Simon
Zibo, Joseph Paintsil, Yaw Yeboah, Osman Bukari, Kwabena Owusu, Benjamin
Tetteh.
Gabon starting XI:
Apaya Ngouegne, Bilong Houdouna, Loudou Ngoye, Nadouna Hadouna, Youmou
Ngadi, Mboundou Nbundou, Oyoubi Oty Grege, Babicka Shavy, Nboulou Nzigou and
Ovono Essogo
