Ghana secured a 2-0 win over South Africa in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group C match at the Cape Coast Stadium on Thursday.
As a result, the Black Stars kicked off their qualifying campaign with an impressive victory, while Molefi Ntseki suffered a defeat in his first competitive game in charge of Bafana Bafana.
The Black Stars were the better side in the opening stages of the match and they should have grabbed an early goal through Jordan Ayew in the 10th minute.
The Crystal Palace striker connected with Thomas Partey’s free-kick and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams produced a good save.
Bafana Bafana were forced to make a change when Bongani Zungu went down injured and he was replaced by Thapelo Morena two minutes before the half-hour mark.
The hosts piled pressure on South Africa and they managed to open the scoring through Atletico de Madrid midfield maestro Partey’s deflected shot to make it 1-0 to Ghana in the 35th minute.
Bafana had a chance to level matters just before halftime, but Percy Tau’s low shot was well-saved by the Black Stars keeper Richard Ofori and Ghana were leading 1-0 at the break.
Jordan Ayew was keen to put his name on the score sheet after the restart as his powerful shot missed the target just before the hour-mark.
Current Absa Premiership joint-top goalscorer Kermit Erasmus was introduced by South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki as the visitors looked to restore parity.
However, the Black Stars continued to attack in the latter stages of the encounter and they managed to double their lead through Mohammed Kudus in the 79th minute.
The FC Nordsjaelland striker made a clever run before unleashing thunderous shot which beat Williams hands down to seal Ghana’s 2-0 victory over South Africa.
Ghana (1) 2 (Partey 35′, Kudus 79′)
South Africa 0
Ghana: Ofori, Yiadom, Aidoo, Nuhu, Mensah, Baba (Attamah 90’+3), Duncan (Kudus 61′), Partey, A. Ayew, J. Ayew, Boateng (S. Owusu 87′).
SA:Williams (GK), Hlatshwayo, Mkhize, Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Zungu (Morena 28′), Mokeke, Furman, Tau, Lorch (Erasmus 70′), Grobler (Mothiba 63′).
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