It’s a renewal of football hostilities when Ghana’s Black Stars come up against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the AFCON 2017 semifinal.
The game kicks off at the Stade de Franceville at 1900 GMT.
The two, make up for the second most successful teams in the competition with 8 trophies combined.
Ghana has triumphed at the showpiece 4 times, same as Cameroon but both countries have had to endure a lengthy wait for their fifth triumph.
Ghana’s last success at the continental championship came in 1982 while Cameroon last won it in 2002.
Certainly, friendliness will be excused when the two face off with an eye for that sole slot in the final.
Here are some stats about the game compiled by starrsportsgh.com writer Michael Asare Boadu:
OVERALL HEAD TO HEAD:
14 matches played
Ghana – 6wins
Cameroon – 2 wins
6 draws.
The first meeting between the two took place in December 1967 in an Olympic Game qualifier.
Cameroon won the game by 1-0 while Ghana won the return encounter 3-2.
Their first AFCON meeting occurred in 1982.
Cameroon and Ghana, both group A members drew goalless in that game.
Overall they have met three times at the AFCON.
1982: Cameroon 0-0 Ghana
2000: Cameroon 1-1 Ghana
2008: Cameroon 1-0 Ghana
In three meetings, Cameroon has an unbeaten record against Ghana. The Black Stars are still waiting for their first victory against the Indomitable Lions at the competition.
GHANA’S SEMIFINAL RECORD AT THE AFCON:
1968: Ghana 4-3 Ivory Coast (AET)
1970: Ghana 2-1 Ivory Coast (AET)
1978: Ghana 1-0 Tunisia
1982: Ghana 3-2 Algeria (AET)
1992: Ghana 2-1 Nigeria
1996: Ghana 0-3 South Africa
2008: Ghana 0-1 Cameroon
2010: Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
2012: Ghana 0-1 Zambia
2013: Ghana 1-1 Burkina Faso* (AET) Burkina progressed 3-2 via PSO
2015: Ghana 3-0 Equatorial Guinea
-In 11 semifinal matches, the Black Stars have made it to the final 7 times.
CAMEROON’S SEMIFINAL RECORD AT THE AFCON:
1972: Cameroon 0-1 Congo
1984: Cameroon* 0-0 Algeria (5-4 PSO)
1986: Cameroon 1-0 Ivory Coast
1988: Cameroon 1-0 Morocco
1992: Cameroon 0-0 Ivory Coast* (AET) PSO (3-1)
2000: Cameroon 3-0 Tunisia
2002: Cameroon 3-0 Mali
2008: Cameroon 1-0 Ghana
-Cameroon have conceded just once on 8 semifinal matches. They have also lost only one semifinal in open play (1972)
INTERESTING STATS:
Ghana has never lost a game at the Stade de Franceville, (3 wins and a draw) in four matches.
REFEREE:
Gambian Referee Papa Bakary Gassama will officiate Ghana’s clash with Cameroon.
The 39-year-old Gambian referee is currently the CAF referee of the year 2016.
He has won the award for the past three years.
Gassama officiated the 2015 AFCON final between Ghana and Ivory Coast which the latter won via a penalty shootout.
He also officiated Ghana’s 0-1 loss to Egypt in the last group game of this competition.
Since becoming a FIFA referee in 2007, Gassama has officiated 86 games on the international scene and has awarded 227 yellow cards, 10 red cards and 12 penalties.
The game between Ghana and Cameroon will be his 12th AFCON match after making his debut in 2012.
Source: www.starrsportsgh.com/Michael Asare Boadu
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