Preview: Two-time champions Ghana will be overwhelming favourites when they take on continental neighbours Niger in a pre-quarterfinal clash of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Wednesday.
Ghana are strong forces in the age-group competition having won it in 1991 and 1995 and having reached four out of five finals in the 1990s.
But Niger have the ability to cause an upset. In fact, it was Niger that had stopped five-time champions and geographical neighbours Nigeria from entering the competition held in India for the first time in the zonal stage in their home continent.
Niger had pumped in a last-gasp goal against their more fancied and stronger rivals in the return leg after having lost the first leg 0-1 to Nigeria.
They won on aggregate and made it to the CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations competition, the last qualifying stage to book their berth to India.
There too Niger exceeded expectations by earning a 2-2 draw against Angola, losing to another top team Mali 0-1 and beating Tanzania 1-0 to reach the semi-final, where they were beaten on penalties by Ghana, their rivals tomorrow, before losing 1-3 to Guinea in the third-place match.
Here in Group D, they have not been impressive though. They have been beaten by European champions Spain (4-0) and South American champions Brazil (2- 0) and have made it to the Round-of-16 only by beating North Korea 1-0 and finishing third in the group with three points.
It was Salim Abdourahmane who netted their match-winner in the second half against the North Koreans which earned them a last 16 berth by virtue of being one of the four best third-place finishers in the preliminary group stage of the competition.
On the other hand, Ghana reached their first U-17 World Cup for a decade in, at times, stop-start circumstances.
After edging Burkina Faso 6-5 over two legs in the second round of qualification, they saw off Côte d'Ivoire to progress to the CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Gabon. Once there, they hit their stride, defeating Cameroon 4-0 and the hosts 5-0, the latter result securing their spot as the first African side on the plane to India 2017.
After that, the Ghanaians did not score again in regulation time, drawing 0-0 with Guinea in their final group game and with Niger in the semi-finals, winning on penalties to reach the final, where they lost 1-0 to Mali.
But they can frustrate their fans as shown in 0-0 drawn games against Guinea and win on penalties over Niger to enter the final before losing 0-1 to Mali in the final of the continental championships.
In their Group A clashes, Ghana hit their straps by topping it with 1-0 and 4-0 victories over Colombia and hosts India interspersed with a 0-1 loss to the US.
Squads:
Ghana: Danlad Ibrahim, John Out, Gideon Acquah, Edmund Arko-Mensah, Najeeb Yakubu, Eric Ayiah, Ibrahim Sulley, Kudus Mohammed, Richard Danso, Emmanuel Toku, Aminu Mohammed, Abdul Yusif, Gabriel Leveh, Bismark Owusu, Kwame Aziz, Rashid Alhassan, Mohammed Iddriss, Sadiq Ibrahim, Isaac Gyamfi, Michael Acquaye.
Niger: Moussa Laouali, Yacine Wa Massamba, Mahamadou Mahamane, Nasser Mahaman, Farouk Idrissa, Ismail Issaka, Ismael Issaka, Inoussa Amadou, Habibou Sofiane, Kairou Amoustapha, Rachid Alfari, Karim Tinni, Djibrilla Ibrahim, Yacouba Aboubacar, Kader Aboubacar, Rachid Soumana, Abdoulaye Boubacar, Ibrahim Boubacar, Ibrahim Namata, Salim Abdourahmane, Hamid Galissoune, Khaled Lawali.
With inputs from IANS
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Updated Date: Oct 18, 2017 19:14:57 IST
Highlights
Full time! Ghana 2-0 Niger
Eric Ayiah's first-half penalty and a belter of a goal from substitute Richard Danso gives Ghana a 2-0 victory over Niger. Ghana dominated the match right from the first minute and they deservedly go through to the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Even though Khaled pulled out some fantastic saves, including a second-half Eric Ayiah penalty, Niger barely troubled Danlad in the Ghanaian goal.
Ghana will now face another of their African rivals as they take on Mali in the quarter-finals in Guwahati on Saturday.
90` GOAL! Richard Danso doubles Ghana's lead! Ghana 2-0 Niger
What a strike that is from Richard Danso. The Ghanaian has been on the pitch for only a couple of minutes but his goal has released the pressure on Ghana. He gets the ball outside the box and after a couple of touches he lets fly and even though Khaled manages to get a hand, the shot has too much power on it.
85` Penalty saved! Ghana 1-0 Niger
Khaled has been the best player of the match so far and this save highlights that fact. Farouk concedes another penalty as he brings Down Toku. Eric Ayiah, who has already scored from the penalty spot in the first half, steps up to take this one. Khaled goes the right way his teammates run up to their goalkeeper who is definitely pumped up with that save.
45+3 GOAL! Eric Ayiah scores from the penalty spot! Ghana 1-0 Niger
Ayiah breaks into the box and he's fouled by Farouk. The referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ayiah picks himself up to take the penalty and sends Khaled the wrong way.
Kick off! Ghana 0-0 Niger
And we're off in Mumbai!
19:14 (IST)
That's all from us here from Mumbai. Keep following as we bring you all the live updates from the Round of 16 encounter between Brazil and Honduras. Goodbye!
19:11 (IST)
19:03 (IST)
Full time! Ghana 2-0 Niger
Eric Ayiah's first-half penalty and a belter of a goal from substitute Richard Danso gives Ghana a 2-0 victory over Niger. Ghana dominated the match right from the first minute and they deservedly go through to the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Even though Khaled pulled out some fantastic saves, including a second-half Eric Ayiah penalty, Niger barely troubled Danlad in the Ghanaian goal.
Ghana will now face another of their African rivals as they take on Mali in the quarter-finals in Guwahati on Saturday.
18:53 (IST)
90` GOAL! Richard Danso doubles Ghana's lead! Ghana 2-0 Niger
What a strike that is from Richard Danso. The Ghanaian has been on the pitch for only a couple of minutes but his goal has released the pressure on Ghana. He gets the ball outside the box and after a couple of touches he lets fly and even though Khaled manages to get a hand, the shot has too much power on it.
18:50 (IST)
85` Penalty saved! Ghana 1-0 Niger
Khaled has been the best player of the match so far and this save highlights that fact. Farouk concedes another penalty as he brings Down Toku. Eric Ayiah, who has already scored from the penalty spot in the first half, steps up to take this one. Khaled goes the right way his teammates run up to their goalkeeper who is definitely pumped up with that save.
18:44 (IST)
80` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Khaled has taken a battering today and for the third time, he needs extensive treatment to get him up and running. Khaled charges in to punch away a corner kick but Ghana's Yakubu clatters into him and both require treatment from their medical staff.
18:40 (IST)
75` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Khaled goes down once again. The Nigerien custodian has single-handedly kept his team in the game till now. Niger make their first substitution as Karim Tinni replaces Habibou Sofiane. Ghana also make a change as Mohammed Iddriss replaces Isaac Gyamfi.
18:31 (IST)
65` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Mensah with a miss that will probably haunt for a long long time. Mensah gets on the end of a deflected shot and no one in front to save him, he promptly puts it over the bar. Somewhat like this Dutch player.
18:25 (IST)
62` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Owusu probably didn't recover fully after twisting his ankle a couple of minutes ago and after he slumps back on the pitch, Ghana coach decides to get him off. In comes John Otu for Ghana.
18:21 (IST)
56` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Another Ghanaian player goes down and this time its No 10 Toku. It's a crunching tackle by Niger's Salim and Toku's shin is caught in the follow through. A stretcher is brought on for him and he's taken off to the sideline. Thankfully for Ghana, Toku recovers from the knock and is back on the pitch.
18:16 (IST)
52` Ghana 1-0 Niger
With Ghana's dominance on the ball, the only way for Niger to score would be through counter-attacks and they get one. Owusu twists his ankle trying to keep the ball in play and Niger spring on the counter. Ibrahim plays in a good ball for an onrushing teammate but his through ball has too much on it and the ball rolls behind for a Ghana goal-kick.
18:10 (IST)
47` Ghana 1-0 Niger
Ghana win their first free-kick of the second half on the left. However, like all of their set-pieces in the first half, Ghana waste it as Leveh opts to go for goal but it was never going to trouble Khaled in the Nigerien goal.
18:06 (IST)
Ghana 1-0 Niger
The two teams troop out and get into their respective huddles. A couple of Niger players also stop to pray as the referee tells the players to get ready for the second half.
18:00 (IST)
Ghana 1-0 Niger
17:56 (IST)
Halftime. Ghana 1-0 Niger
Eric Ayiah's penalty is the last action we see from the first half as the referee blows for half-time. Even though Ghana lead at halftime, they should have been a couple of goals ahead if only their forwards would have been more clinical in front of goal. Niger have been on the backfoot from the start and barring a few forays into the Ghana box, they have not cleared any clear-cut chances in the half.
17:50 (IST)
45+3 GOAL! Eric Ayiah scores from the penalty spot! Ghana 1-0 Niger
Ayiah breaks into the box and he's fouled by Farouk. The referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ayiah picks himself up to take the penalty and sends Khaled the wrong way.
17:47 (IST)
45` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Ghana win two back-to-back corners but they fail to make the most of it. Niger almost mount a counter-attack but the move breaks down. Ghana get a free-kick near the touchline on the left. Arko-Mensah has a good opportunity to find a teammate at the end of his free-kick but he goes for goal from a long way out. His shot was never going to trouble Khaled in goal. The quality of set-pieces taken by Ghana has been poor today.
17:40 (IST)
38` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Ayiah with two good chances to put Ghana ahead. He cuts into the box from the left onto his favoured left foot but his shot is blocked. The ball is recycled back to him and he gets the ball from a similar place but he skies it over.
17:36 (IST)
34` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Ghana clearly have the upper hand in the match so far. They have more possession and are being patient in their build-up play. The attacking trio of Ayiah, Toku and Arko-Mensah are getting into good positions but they are being frustrated by a mixture of wasteful finishing and good Nigerien defence.
17:30 (IST)
27` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Khaled goes down after Owusu clatters into him during a Ghana corner. The Nigerien custodian stays on the ground clutching his ribs. While he receives treatment, the referee calls for the water break. Khaled is thankfully not hurt bad and he's up after applying some ice on his chest.
17:26 (IST)
25` Ghana 0-0 Niger
What a save by Khaled in the Niger goal! Leveh lays it off to Arko-Mensah who fires in a left-footed shot which is sent past the post by Khaled.
17:24 (IST)
22` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Ghana win a free-kick on the left of the box and it is a good chance for Gyamfi to whip in a good delivery for the Ghanian players gathered at the far end. Gyamfi, however, goes for goal and his shot sails miles above goal. Poor judgement by Gyamfi there.
17:18 (IST)
20` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Chance for Niger! Ibrahim Boubackar finds space on the left but his second touch was disappointing. Niger should be making the most of these rare chances in the game.
17:17 (IST)
10` Ghana 0-0 Niger
Looks like Ghana's Issac Gyamfi has picked up a knock while defending. He signals towards the dugout but should be fine. Niger will have their task cut out against Ghana's defensive pair of Najeeb Yakubu and Edmund Arko-Mensah. The Black Starlets have conceded just one goal so far in the tournament.
17:10 (IST)
Kick off! Ghana 0-0 Niger
And we're off in Mumbai!
16:36 (IST)
16:26 (IST)
Here is how both teams lineup today.
16:10 (IST)
Hello and welcome to Firtspost's live coverage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017. Ghana and Niger play each other in an all African match. The winner will play Mali, who thrashed Iraq 5-1 in their RO16 match, in the quarter-finals.
The final RO16 match will see tournament favourites Brazil play Honduras.