World Cup qualifiers: Chad strike late to deny Ghana victory
By Lukman MUMIN
The Black Stars suffered a minor setback in their World Cup qualifiers in N’Djamena after conceding a dramatic late equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Chad on Thursday.
Ecua Celestin scored with two minutes remaining to cancel out Jordan Ayew’s first-half goal.
Ghana started brightly, and the breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Ayew connected with a perfect pass from Mohammed Kudus in the box.
The four-time African champions looked the better side for long periods and created several chances to extend their lead.
Despite being on the back foot, Chad — under the guidance of newly appointed coach Raoul Savoy — remained resilient.
With a restructured squad compared to the one thrashed 5-0 in Accra, they kept their belief alive.
That persistence bore fruit in the 89th minute when Young Africans SC forward Ecua Celestin produced a moment of brilliance.
Picking the ball just outside the area, he unleashed a pinpoint strike that sailed beyond Benjamin Asare to level the score and ignite wild scenes inside the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno.
The Black Stars pressed hard in stoppage time, but Chad’s defence held firm. The draw leaves Ghana still leading Group I but facing crucial fixtures ahead as the qualifiers edge towards their conclusion.
