Ghana closed the gap at the top in Group D with an efficient 4-0 win over Sudan on Sunday in Kumasi in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Majeed Waris scored his first competitive goal for the Black Stars in the second half before substitute Emmanuel Agyemang Badu also tapped in from his lay off after first half goals from Asamoah Gyan and Mubarak Wakaso.
The win pushes the Black Stars to just one point behind Zambia with three matches to go in the second round stage of qualifying.
With the leaders, Zambia dropping points in their 1-1 draw with Lesotho, an hour before Ghana kicked off at the Baba Yara Stadium, the stakes were also high as the result handed either side an opportunity to close the gap at the top.
After a bright start, the Black Stars captained by Sulley Muntari made incursions into the half of the Nile Crocodiles but could not find the back of the net.
Sudan also had their moments in the opening half as goalkeeper Fatau Dauda was quick to go to ground to grab a shot to the near post.
However Gyan opened the scoring when he beat Isaac Vorsah to the scoeing opportunity by tapping in from close range with goalkeeper Elmuez Muhgoub beaten by a header to the far post after 19 minutes.
Ghana continued knocking but Sudan were difficult to break down in defence.
Nineteen minutes after the opener, Harrison Afful dribbled his marker, went to the byline and delivered a cross which Wakasom, who was on the edge of the box met with his left foot to give Ghana a two-nil lead.
Two goals after the opening half, Sudan opened up in the second half but it was Ghana who had the best of the opening minutes.
But seven minutes into the half, Gyan suffered a muscle injury and was replaced by Agyemang Badu.
Another change soon followed as Muntari gave way to Solomon Asante before Emmanuel Frimpong was handed his debut when he took over from Rabiu Mohammed in the 67th minute.
Though the tempo of the game dropped, Ghana were still keen on pushing for more goals.
Waris in the 79th minute scored with a header from Asante’s cross before he turned provider, when he squared the ball to the far post for Agyemang Badu to bundle in five minutes later.
Ghana starting XI Fatau Dauda, Harrison Afful, Richard Kissi Boateng, John Boye, Isaac Vorsah, Rabiu Mohammed/Emmanuel Frimpong, Sulley Muntari/Solomon Asante, Kwadwo Asamoah, Abdul Majeed Waris, Asamoah Gyan/Agyemang Badu, Mubarak Wakaso.
Credit: Peacefmonline.com
