Jeremia Afriyie’s goal against Niger in Afcon qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium makes him the first player from the lowest level in Ghana club football (Second Division) to score on his Black Stars debut.
Jeremia Afriyie’s Black Stars call-up for Niger clash marked a significant history in Ghana football by becoming the first Ghanaian third tier player to receive a call-up to the senior national team for a CAF sanctioned game.
There was much expectations on the youngster who had emerged top scorer and Best Player of WAFU Zone B African U-20 Championship in Togo. His naturally manufactured achievements in the sub regional Championship has heightened his career, and well welcomed with a Black Stars call-up.
Otto Addo, who has been under intense pressure following Ghana’s poor results, kept huge faith in low calibre but potential Jeremia Afriyie introducing the youngster later against Niger in the final Afcon qualifying game at Accra Sports Stadium on Monday.
The Thought Football Club forward repaid Ghana as whole and Otto Addo in particular after scoring the country’s equalizer against Niger in Accra. The attack, finding himself unmarked in the box, squared in Ernest Nuamah’s individually produced brilliance from the right flank. Otto Addo entered the pitch to appreciate the goal with a huge on Afriyie.
Afriyie’s presence and output bring a relieve or hope for Black Stars’ long-term striking woes with stars Kudus Mohammed, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams failing to click on the Ghanaian soil.
Jordan Ayew opened Ghana’s account in a must win to boost qualification game against Angola, from a free kick the Leicester City forward struck the Palancas Negras’ roof of the net, ending the forward’s 5-month goal dryness for Ghana. Jordan last grabbed a hat-trick in Black Stars 4-3 win over Central African Republic in World Cup qualifier in June.
Ghana failed to maintain the led against Angola when Zini leveled the hosts to finally terminate the mathematically feasible Black Stars qualification dream to Morocco 2025 Afcon finals in next year December.
But there were some prides Ghana had to fight for in a final Niger game that adds nothing to the country’s qualification to the next Afcon. In this knowledge, there was which team to avoid the bottom of Group F and Ghana’s test of its newly called local players at this higher level of Association football.
Ghana have taken side of a mixed results after on one hand, being beaten at home to finish last of their group, a sad news, and on the other hand, its local players shining against Niger with which tipped to be Asamaoh Gyan replacement Jeremia Afriyie netted to become the first player from the lowest level in Ghana club football (Second Division equivalent to third tier football) to score on his Black Stars debut.
Niger took a 22′ minute lead through Ousseini Badamassi but Jeremia Afriyie equalized with a spetacular effort to the far bottom corner. Ghana looked the likeliest side to score a second but squandered decent chances.
After Ghana’s goal, the manner of play was the first time in many games the Black Stars was playing with open chances created. Thanks to West United star Kudus Mohammed, Jeremia Afriyie, Ernest Nuamah who have developed a telepathic understanding up front.
Another local player, Razak Simpson, who features for Ghana Premier League leaders Nations Football Club, and made his debut against Angola, rose above to head the ball from resultant corner but missed the posts narrowly. That effort was one of Ghana’s best chances to find the lead.
Niger got the match winner in stoppage time through Oumar Sako to finish the game 2-1 up against Ghana in Accra, moving to a third place with 7 points, Ghana last with 3 points, the first time in many qualifiers Ghana have finished an Afcon qualifying campaign without winning a game. Angola topped the Group with 14 points second by Sudan with 8 points as the two qualify for Morocco Afcon finals.
