Ghana has made it through the first round with a victory in each game. Top of group A, they now face Nigeria in the quarter finals on Sunday. I have seen each of Ghana’s three opening matches in different circumstances. I watched the first game against Guinea on TV at my landlord’s house across the compound. These were definitely the most civilised surroundings. I watched with his two boys and was plied with fruit juice and biscuits. All the terrestrial channels are showing the games live. For the first half of the tournament there are games every night so there is really no escape. Choice of channel you watch tends to depend on which has the best reception rather than the best coverage.
I watched the second game against Namibia at the Total 1 bar or ‘spot’ in the centre of Koforidua about 20 metres from my day time office window. The larger petrol stations in Ghana often have their own spots. There are three Total stations here, hence the numbering. I sat with a colleague from work. Dan would have been there too, but he reluctantly decided to go home, having discovered a large cockroach in his house and deciding he did not want to be cohabiting with any of its friends for any longer than necessary. Although this was a victory for Ghana it was not their finest 90 minutes. Fortunately, the only goal of the match came just before half time giving cause for much flag waving, dancing, singing, horn blowing, music and general excitement during the interval. This continued at the end of the match.
As previously mentioned I was in Accra for the Morocco fixture. I was in a row of seven VSO volunteers. The refurbished stadium is very impressive. We had good seats near the centre line opposite the main stand. We could see the Ghana coach LeRoy, opposite standing in his trade mark arms folded position, but the running track around the pitch puts some distance between spectator and player. Fortunately Essien, wears yellow boots and is easy to spot. The stadium was nearly full and the crowd was in cheerful mood. If there were Moroccan fans present, we could not see them. We were in more expensive seats (about £7.50) which meant that there were a lot of non-Ghanaians around us. I felt sorry for the Ghanaian sitting next to me as he was sandwiched between white people.
Although Ghana was top of the group before the game, depending on the other group game being played simultaneously down the coast in Sekondi, it was still possible for them not to proceed to the next round. Morocco needed to win to stay in the tournament. By all accounts, this was the best game Ghana has played in the tournament to this point. Ghana scored twice in the first half and Morocco was unable to recover from this.
It is unlikely I will see any more of the games first hand. Demand for tickets to the later rounds will be high and the arrangements for distributing tickets have come under some criticism in the Ghanaian press.
I watched the second game against Namibia at the Total 1 bar or ‘spot’ in the centre of Koforidua about 20 metres from my day time office window. The larger petrol stations in Ghana often have their own spots. There are three Total stations here, hence the numbering. I sat with a colleague from work. Dan would have been there too, but he reluctantly decided to go home, having discovered a large cockroach in his house and deciding he did not want to be cohabiting with any of its friends for any longer than necessary. Although this was a victory for Ghana it was not their finest 90 minutes. Fortunately, the only goal of the match came just before half time giving cause for much flag waving, dancing, singing, horn blowing, music and general excitement during the interval. This continued at the end of the match.
As previously mentioned I was in Accra for the Morocco fixture. I was in a row of seven VSO volunteers. The refurbished stadium is very impressive. We had good seats near the centre line opposite the main stand. We could see the Ghana coach LeRoy, opposite standing in his trade mark arms folded position, but the running track around the pitch puts some distance between spectator and player. Fortunately Essien, wears yellow boots and is easy to spot. The stadium was nearly full and the crowd was in cheerful mood. If there were Moroccan fans present, we could not see them. We were in more expensive seats (about £7.50) which meant that there were a lot of non-Ghanaians around us. I felt sorry for the Ghanaian sitting next to me as he was sandwiched between white people.
Although Ghana was top of the group before the game, depending on the other group game being played simultaneously down the coast in Sekondi, it was still possible for them not to proceed to the next round. Morocco needed to win to stay in the tournament. By all accounts, this was the best game Ghana has played in the tournament to this point. Ghana scored twice in the first half and Morocco was unable to recover from this.
It is unlikely I will see any more of the games first hand. Demand for tickets to the later rounds will be high and the arrangements for distributing tickets have come under some criticism in the Ghanaian press.
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