Gyan takes Ghana through as Uganda crash

ASAMOAH Gyan headed Ghana into t he quarterf inals of t he Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, while Uganda were condemned to an early exit after a n a gon i si ng defe at to Eg y pt i n Port-Gentil.

Gyan scored the only goal of the first match of the day in a Group D doubleheader in the Gabonese port city, securing a 1-0 win for the Black Stars against Mali.

On an awful pitch, seven-time African champions Egypt had subs Abdallah El Said to thank for the 89th-minute effort that gave them a 1-0 win over Uganda, who became the first team to be eliminated.

Four-time winners Ghana, the runners-up in 2015, are one of only two teams to have clinched qualification for the quarterfinals with a match to spare, the others being Senegal.

“In tou r na ments you need to be winning games and that is what we did today,” said Gyan, who has now scored at si x consec ut ive Cup of Nations tournaments.

“We are satisfied about our performance. Whether we play an excellent game or not, at the end of the day we just want to win and move for ward.”

After back-to-back 1-0 wins, Avram Grant’s side will bag top spot by avoiding defeat when they play Egypt in their last group match on Wednesday.

The teams had been prevented from warming-up on the pitch in order to prevent the damaged surface from further deteriorating, and when the game began it was Ghana who adapted quickest to the conditions.

Andre Ayew should have put the ball in the net rather than poke wide from a Christian Atsu assist, before the goal arrived in the 21st minute.

Gyan headed in a Jordan Ayew cross for his eighth goal at the Cup of Nations – his first came on home soil in 2008 – and Ghana then soaked up Malian pressure after the break.

Mali, who were eliminated from the group stage after a drawing of lots in 2015, must now beat Uganda in their last match and hope Egypt lose if they are to stay in the competition.

“The players are disappointed but not completely knocked down. They will be ready to lift their heads for the last match,” said the Mali coach Alain Giresse.