Ghana came back from the brink of elimination with two goals in the final 17 minutes to beat South Africa 2-1 on Tuesday and make the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
The four-time champions were heading for a rare early exit at the continental championship after Mandla Masango’s spectacular volleyed goal for South Africa in the 17th minute.
However, a desperate Ghana turned it around in the second half at the Estadio de Mongomo.
Photo: EPA
Substitute John Boye scored from close range in the 73rd minute and Andre Ayew headed home 10 minutes later for a victory that took Ghana from exiting the tournament to qualifying as winners of Group C.
Algeria also made the quarter-finals from Group C after a 2-0 win over Senegal in Malabo. Ghana and Algeria ended on six points, but Ghana topped the group after beating Algeria in their meeting.
Ghana’s progress was hanging by a thread under big-name new coach Avram Grant. The Black Stars again needed a late surge like the one that gave them a stoppage-time win over top-ranked African team Algeria.
“I’m very happy for the players,” Grant said. “Once again they showed spirit. We came through the group of death and we are first.”
Although Ghana is not in top form yet, they are still in the tournament and have a chance to end a 33-year wait for an Africa Cup title.
“I think with this team we can face any team in this competition,” Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan said.
Ghana had much of the play against a South Africa who had a slim chance of qualifying with a victory, but Ghana could not convert their chances until right at the end.
Masango had shocked them by controlling a clearance on his chest near the edge of the area and sending a fantastic dipping volley over goalkeeper Razak Braimah and just under the crossbar for the lead.
Ghana applied pressure throughout the second half and found late inspiration when defender Boye managed to create space for himself to steer home a low shot for the equalizer. Another substitute brought on by Grant, forward Kwesi Appiah, played a crucial role in the winner that kept Ghana alive.
He provided the cross for Ayew to head in, with the winger then wheeling away and diving onto the grass in celebration. His jubilant teammates piled on top of him.
South Africa were eliminated after leading in every one of their three group games and failing to hold on, losing two and drawing one.
“First half we played very well and we got a goal. Come second half, we went to sleep,” South Africa coach Ephraim Mashaba said.
Meanwhile, Senegal coach Alain Giresse indicated that he would not be signing a new deal with the Lions of Teranga after they exited the Cup.
The west African nation, who have never won the continental title, needed only a point against Algeria in Malabo to progress to the last eight from Group C, but a 2-0 defeat coupled with Ghana’s result saw them exit at the first hurdle.
When asked if he was now going to step down, Frenchman Giresse replied: “I am out of contract. My contract has finished.”
“The road ends here for Senegal,” he said. “There will be a lot of changes in and around the team. What happens next I don’t know, but I know what I am going to do.”
Of the performance, he added: “We were not at our best. It was a strange match. Our performance was not up to what we could have expected.”
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