Ahmed Osman celebrating after scoring for Libya in the 1-0 victory over Ghana (photo: Yousef Alajeili)
Libya beat Ghana 1-0 at the June 11 Stadium Friday night with a goal on 85 minutes to take control of Group Five in the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Libyans produced one of the best moves of the match to clinch the all-important goal and victory that pushed them to the top of the standings and sole command three points ahead of the more fancied Ghana who have been favourites to win the group in the first stage of the qualifiers.
It was the result all the football supporters in the country had hoped for. It is also a credit to the hard working squad and national team coach Fauzi Benzarti who spent the summer toiling to build up the enthusiasm for this very important match
The victory gives hope for Libya as they overtake Ghana in Group 5 standings with a game to wrap up the second round of the continental preliminaries.
Success was well deserved as though the Black Stars of Ghana started as favourites, having started the day 70 places above Libya in the FIFA Ranking list Libya were far more efficient, both in defence and midfield.
Ghana, under new coach Milovan Rajevac, going into his fist competitive game for the Black Stars, suffered a setback after 22 minutes when the coach was forced to alter his starting team when Michael Essien was taken off with a knew injury to be replaced by the other experienced player and returning team captain,
Stephen Appiah making his first appearance in a competitive match after a nine-month injury-induced absence soon got going and he created some good scoring opportunities for Junior Agogo and Sulley Muntari in the first half with both players fluffing their chances.
Libya, playing with vigour and spirit threatened on the flanks and at one time it was only Ghana defender, Jonathan Quarteywho saved the day when he cleared his lines as both sides went into break goalless.
On the change-of-ends Libya still had the better of the exchanges. They fought for every ball and succeeded in overworking the Ghana backline, even getting the best save of the game from goalkeeper Goalkeeper Richard Kingson in the 72nd minute when he tipped to corner a threatening chip from Omar Dawood.
With Ghana struggling to contain Libya, the Black Stars’ keeper was also on hand to pull other great saves blocking point blank shot.
With a supportive partisan stadium crowd behind them throughout the 90 minutes, Libya won the game with a well-worked out goal from experienced striker Ahmed Osman after hesitation in the Ghanaian defence by Harrison Afful.
The game looked destined to end in a scorless draw when with
only five minutes on the clock left for the final whistle, 30- year-old Osman received a clever pass from midfielder Ibrahim, and with Harrison Afful mistiming his clearance, the Libyan selected his spot to slot t the ball into the back of the net from an acute angle and wide of Richard Kingson.
Despite two added minutes by referee Coulibaly Koman, Ghana seemed shell shocked and did not have it in them to react leaving Libya narrow but comfortable victors.
With one more match still to go in the group stage, the win took Libya to the top of the group with 12 points, leaving the Black Stars second on nine points. In their final group game Libya play Gabon away next month. A draw for will see them topping the group.
Gabon are in third with six points, but are expected to make headway tomorrow Sunday when they take on bottom team Lesotho, who will be Ghana’s final opponents in the group in October. Only a win at that home match could give them a chance of advancing to the second phase of the qualifiers.
Libya line up:
Samir Abboud; Younus Al Shabani, Ali Alsbaay (Mohammed Zubih 68), Mohamed Elmmughraby, Osama Hamady, Nader Abdussalem, Wallid Ejlal, Abdulnaser Slil, Khaled Mohamed, Ahmed Osman, Salem Rewani (Nader Kara 75)
Algeria defeat Senegal and Malawi Stroll on over Djibouti
In Friday's two other matches, Algeria defeated Senegal 3-2 in a close Group 6 match with all the goals getting scored in the second half, while in Group 12 Malawi won comfortably in Djibouti by 3-0
Other African Zone Qualifiers this weekend:
TODAY
GROUP 1
Mauritius v Tanzania
Cape Verde v Cameroon
GROUP 2
Kenya v Namibia
GROUP 4
South Africa v Nigeria
Sierra Leone v Eq. Guinea
GROUP 6
Gambia v Liberia
GROUP 8
Mauritaniav Rwanda
GROUP 9
Seychelles v Burundi
Burkina Faso v Tunisia
GROUP 10
Sudan v Chad
TOMORROW
GROUP 2
Zimbabwe v Guinea
GROUP 3
Niger v Uganda
Benin v Angola
GROUP 5
Lesotho v Gabon
GROUP 7
Madagascar v Botswana
Mozambique v Ivory Coast
GROUP 10
Congo v Mali
GROUP 12
DR Congo v Egypt
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