Ghana ready for England after big win

Posted Monday, March 28, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Ghana got the perfect boost ahead of an historic clash with England at Wembley when they crushed Congo 3-0 Sunday in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Serbia-based strikers Prince Tagoe and Dominic Adiyiah scored in the first half for the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Sully Muntari added a third goal just before full-time.

The 'Black Stars' climbed to seven points from three Group I outings—three more than second-placed Sudan, who are expected to defeat bottom-of-the-table Swaziland in Omdurman later Sunday.

Victory also lifted Ghanaian spirits ahead of their first match against England Tuesday with five Premiership footballers seeking places in the starting line-up of new Serb coach Goran Stevanovic.

Sunderland defender John Mensah and striker Asamoah Gyan, Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson and Fulham defender John Paintsil complete the England-based quintet.

World Cup star Gyan missed the Brazzaville match through suspension, leaving replacement Tagoe to make the most of his chance by opening the scoring before Partizan Belgrade team-mate Adiyiah added a second just before half-time.

Few teams enjoy tackling a Congolese side starring Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba in their backyard, but Ghana are the exception having also won two previous Cup of Nations qualifiers there.

Zambia moved two points clear of Libya in Group C with a 2-0 victory over Mozambique thanks to goals from James Chamanga and Emmanuel Mayuka before a capacity 30,000 crowd at Machava Stadium in Maputo.

China-based Chamanga pushed Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) ahead just 11 minutes into the first half and Mayuka put the outcome beyond doubt via a stoppage-time goal.

"When my players want to win there is no stopping them. This was a great result and made up for the loss in Libya last year," said Italy-born Zambia coach Dario Bonetti.

Dutch coach Mart Nooij, who came close to losing his job after a poor showing at the 2010 Cup of Nations in Angola, said Mozambique had inferior strikers to Zambia.

"We tried so hard to score without success and now the squad must prepare for the return match in Lusaka during June, which I believe will be a little easier because there will be more room to attack."

Democratic Republic of Congo pushed four-time African champions Cameroon down to third place in Group E after a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Mauritius in Kinshasa.

Recalled Tresor Lualua and Yves Ilunga converted penalty kicks and Matumona Zola was also on target for the Congolese in a mini-league dominated so far by resurgent Senegal.

Guinea lost their 100 percent Group B record but stayed on top after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with 10-man Madagascar in Antananarivo where an early Yvan Rajaonarimana goal was cancelled by Djoulde Bah with 10 minutes to go.

Niger closed the gap on Group C pacesetters South Africa to a single point by coming from behind in Niamey to defeat Sierra Leone 3-1 in a West Africa showdown.