ACCRA: Ghana need only a draw against  Morocco on Monday to guarantee their quarter-final berth at the  African Nations Cup after Nottingham Forest striker Junior Agogo  earned the hosts a 1-0 win over Namibia  yesterday.
Namibia’s second straight loss means they will be heading off to  the airport irrespective of what happens in their final Group A tie  against Guinea with valuable lessons learned ahead of their bid to  qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
This was the second game of the day in Accra, the first  producing something of an upset when Guinea, reduced to 10 men for  much of the second half, beat Morocco 3-2.
These two results left Ghana heading Group A on six points, with  Morocco and Guinea both on three with all to play for come Monday.
West Ham right back John Pantsil, who was flown to Nigeria on  Wednesday for a scan after suffering concussion against Guinea, was  a surprise starter allowing Claude Le Roy to name the same line up  for the second consecutive match.
Namibia made three changes, with Dutch boss Arie Schans  switching goalkeepers after Monday’s 5-1 drubbing, Abisai  Shiningayamwe making way for Athiel Mbaha.
Ghana, marshalled by Chelsea’s Michael Essien in midfield, made  clear their intent from the whistle, taking up permanent residence  in the Brave Warrior’s territory yet the underdogs kept them at bay  for the first 30 minutes.
Given that they were 4-0 down by the break against Morocco, the  goalless scoreline up to the 40th minute spoke volumes for Namibia’s  newfound resilience, their coach’s comment that they’d played like  schoolkids against the Moroccans had obviously hurt.
The Group A underdogs were fortunate to be let off though when  Udinese striker Asamoah Gyan hurtled the ball over Mbaha’s bar from  six yards out.  And just as the solace of half time beckoned Ghana got what  seemed was their inevitable reward for all their hard work when  Agogo slotted home rather clumsily from near point blank range after  Quincy Owusu Abeyie’s cross from the right four minutes from the  interval.
Shortly after the resumption Portsmouth midfielder Sulley  Muntari, responsible for the match winner over Guinea, had the Ohene  Djan Stadium roaring when he unleashed one of his trademark long  shots at Attiel, the ball on this occasion sailing over the  crossbar.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingston then picked up a boooking for  a too hastily taken free kick meaning he’ll miss the all important  game on Monday, leaving his brother, Hearts midfielder Laryea, to  uphold family honour against Morocco. On the hour mark Le Roy took off Laryea Kingston, replacing him  with Marseille’s starlet, Andre Ayew.
The second half mirrored the preceding one, with Ghana harrying  the Namibian defence which again performed manfully to deny the  forecast deluge of goals from Muntari and co.
Namibia weren’t without their chances, their talismanic Hamburg  midfielder Collin Benjamin just shooting wide of the far post in the  75th minute but Ghana weren’t about to let this one get away. (AFP)