The local component of the senior national team, the Black Stars began their preparations for the CHAN qualifiers on a disappointing note after they were held at home by their counterparts from Benin.
The visitors started the game brightly with some decent chances but could not make them count.
Ghana grew into the game with the WAFA duo of Ashimeru and Waja dictating the pace of the game.
The dominance resulted in the creation of decent openings but wastefulness on the part of striker Derrick Sasraku and Hearts winger Patrick Razak who missed two unpardonable chances ensured that the Stars waited a bit longer for their opener.
Winful Cobbinah’s freekick was met with a misdirected header by defender Awal Mohammed. Liberty skipper Samuel Sarfo came close but his header hit the crossbar.
It was the visitors that fetched the first goal of the game after a miscommunication between goalkeeper Richard Ofori and defender Awal Mohammed. The ball fell to a Benin player who gently placed it in the net.
The miscommunication resulted in a collision of the two player which put the game on a temporary hold up.
Ghana took control of the game and their efforts were rewarded after Patrick Razak was tripped in the penalty box of the Benin by a rash Benin defender. Awal Mohammed stepped up and slotted the ball home calmly.
The first half ended 1-1.
The Ghanaian technical bench led by Kwesi Appiah made four substitutions in a bid to improve the team but the result of the substitutions is one that the handful of supporters who defied the rains to be at the stadium will be disappointed with.
Ghana was awarded another penalty but Awal’s kick was saved by the agile Benin goalie.
Ghana could not utilize the numerical advantage that came their way after a Benin player was sent off for an awful challenge on Hearts ‘Patrick Razak
The game ended 1-all much to the happiness of the Benin.
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