Qatar 2022: Ghana makes it to the play-offs

By Elikem Livingstone Antonio Dey

Adabraka, Accra. November 16, 2021

Qualification matches are going on all over the world to determine the 31 teams that will be taking part in next year’s world cup in Qatar. The senior national team of Ghana the Black Stars have so far won their first two matches.

The Black Stars beat Ethiopia in their first game in September by a lone goal from a Mubarak Wakaso shot. In the second match against South Africa, Ghana lost by one goal, thanks to a goal from Percy Tau.

In October the Ghana senior team played two crucial qualifiers against Zimbabwe both home and away. In Cape Coast, they beat Zimbabwe by three goals to one, with goals from Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and Andre Ayew. In the return match in Zimbabwe, they won by one goal to nil, thanks to a free kick strike from Thomas Partey.

In November, the national team played their last two matches in the world cup qualifier group stage against Ethiopia once again, and South Africa. The match against Ethiopia was supposed to be a home match for Ethiopia, but the Ethiopian Football Association decided to have it in South Africa. That match against Ethiopia was crucial because the Stars had to win that and their sixth and final match against South Africa.

On match day on November 11, the Stars where held to a 1-1 draw after a wonderful free kick goal from the son of a maestro Andre Ayew. The Ethiopians managed to score a late equalizer to break Ghanaian hearts.

On Sunday November 14, the Black Stars of Ghana’s last crucial game against South Africa was a match that they had to win at all cost. They managed to win by a single goal via a penalty goal from Andre Ayew.

This takes them to the play-offs, the next round of the world cup 2022 world cup qualifier. Ghana’s next opponent will be known on December 18 after a draw to be conducted by the Confederation of African Football, CAF. The play-off round will take place in March 2022.

Elikem Livingstone Antonio Dey

deyelikem0@gmail.com