Ghana’s U-17 side the [Black Starlets] drew goalless with Guinea in their last group match at Stade De L’amitié D’angondj in the ongoing African Youth Championship in Gabon.
The Black Starlets finished Group A as leaders with seven [7] points after whipping Cameroon 4-0 and Gabon 5-0 respectively in their first opening two games.
Ghana though started the game with high tempo struggled to outclass the Guineans who looked more physical in the first half.
Captain Ayiah missed a target narrowly with a long range effort from the edge of the box on the 39th minute.
The Guineans were forced to make an early substitution in the first half when Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahima Sylla was replaced by Mohammed Kamra after picking a shoulder injury on the 17th minute.
The Starlets goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim was virtually on leave as the Guineans could not pose any threat on him throughout the match.
Back from recess, Ghana in their attempt to break deadlock change its game plan as the players slowed down their play to frustrate Guinea with their shot passes with danger man Emmanuel Toku pressing for counter attack.
Ghana coach Paa Kwesi Fabian had to make his first substitution in the 64th minute after bringing on Edmund Mensah to replace Patmos Arhin with Isaac Antah making way for Faisal Osman three minutes later.
Kwadwo Opoku was brought to replace Sulley Ibrahim three minutes away from stoppage time.
Ghana’s biggest chance in the game came in the 83rd minute when substitute Edmund Arko-Mensah failed to connect Faisal Osman’s heading pass.
The two- time champions before their last group match had booked qualification to the FIFA U17 world cup in India have also through to semifinals of the championship.
Ghana will now face the runner-up in Group B at the semi-finals on Wednesday in Port Gentil.
Ghana starting XI against Guinea
Danlad Ibrahim
(5)Najeeb Yakubu
(3)Gideon Acquah
(2)John Otu
(12)Abdul Razak Yusif
(18)Idriss Mohammed
(7)Ibrahim Sulley/ Kwadwo Opoku
(8)Isaac Antah/Faisal Osman
(6)Eric Ayiah
(19)Patmos Arhin/ Edmund Mensah
(10)Emmanuel Toku.
