Ghana Hits Seven Past Poor Mauritius

Captain Asamoah Gyan and Jordan Ayew scored twice each as the Black Stars of Ghana defeated poor Mauritius side 7-1 in the first round of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Africa's Best Player at AFCON 2015, Christian Atsu powered Ghana into the lead in the 10th minute when he headed home a well taken cross from right back Harrison Afful.

Mauritius goalie, Jean-Louis Kevin was at his best in the 15th minute to deny Asamoah Gyan from increasing the tally for Ghana but he could not save his side for the second time in the 17th minute Jordan Ayew came knocking as the son of African legend, Abedi Pele slotted in from a close range from a beautiful team work from the Black Stars.

Asamoah Gyan scored a brace within a space of seven minutes. First, he capitalized on a Jordan Ayew's pass in the 23rd minute to beat Jean-Louis Kevin and then heading home from a fabulous cross from Abdul Baba Rahman in the 30th minute to put the Black Stars at four up.

There was virtually nothing positive to write about the Mauritians in the first half apart from taking advantage from a sloppy Black Star defending to pull one goal back through Jean-Pierre Sophie in the 32nd minute.

But even that could not solve the equation for the visitors as Jordan Ayew completed the first half duty with his second goal on the day in the 38th minute.

Ghana dominated the second half and scored two goals from Jeffrey Schlupp in the 66th minute and Chicago Fire's David Accam in time added on.

The Black Stars next match is an away encounter on September 5 in Kigali against Rwanda.

Elsewhere in Africa, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon had to bet on a last minute goal from Vincent Aboubakar to beat Mauritania 1-0.

The Pharaoh's of Egypt (seven-time AFCON champions), walloped Tanzania by 3-0.

The Bafana Bafana of South Africa was held to a 0-0 drawn game by the Gambia whilst Emmanuel Adebayo's 89th minute goal enabled the hawks of Togo to win 2-1 over Liberia in Lome.

Results at glance;
Ghana 7-1 Mauritius
Cameroon 1-0 Mauritania
Egypt 3-0 Tanzania
South Africa 0-0 Gambia
Congo DR 1-1 Kenya
Ethiopia 2-1 Lesotho
Eq. Guinea 1-1 Benin
Niger 1-0 Namibia
Rwanda 1-0 Mozambique
Sudan 1-0 Sierra Leone
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