Ghana 2 - Togo 0
A 2-0 win for the Black Stars on Sunday over Togo's Hawks was enough to see hosts, Ghana through to the finals of the Zenith Bank 4-Nation Tournament.
Two second half goals by Baffour Gyan and Laryea Kingston ensured that Ghana lines up again for Wednesday's final with Benin.
The Black Stars playing for the first time at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra since 2004 outplayed their opponents, Togo, who fielded a young team led by Emmanuel Adebayor.
Ghana were the side who came close to scoring first with Junior Agogo and Sulley Muntari's efforts at goal denied by Togo goalkeeper, Mensah Celic.
Adebayor made his first attempt at goal when on the 20th minute mark, his effort from 30 yards went beyond the bar line.
Two minutes later, Ghana turned on the heat when Agogo deftly trapped the ball, beating a Togolese marker then let go a shot from close to 35 yards out but the ball flew over the crossbar.
Matthew Amoah came close to putting Ghana in the lead but his goal bound header was cleared off the line. Follow up attempts by the Ghanaian players in the box was blocked.
Ghana had two goals adjudged to be offsides through Junior Agogo in the 31st minute and Michael Essien on the stroke of half time.
Back from recess, Claude Le Roy made his first substitution, bringing on Baffour Gyan for Matthew Amoah.
Junior Agogo came close, applying his head to a cross from the right wing but his header missed goal by inches in the 54th minute.
Then in the 58th minute, Ghana finally broke the deadlock when Junior Agogo raced down the left side of the Togo defence to pick a pass from Sulley Muntari.
The striker turned and headed straight into the box, slowed down to pick out Baffour Gyan and placed the ball into his path for the Russian-based player to strike a shot that hit the inside of the upright for the opener.
Togo came close to equalizing but Emmanuel Adebayor who had good first half but struggled in the second period after been shut out by Ghana's two centre backs, John Mensah and Kofi Amponsah, saw his low freekick on the edge of the box tipped round the post by Richard Kingson for a corner kick.
Ghana Football Association Ghana Football Association
Ghana captain, Stephen Appiah came close to scoring but saw three attempts at goal blocked out by the Togolese.
Seventeen minutes later after the opener, the Black Stars doubled their lead from a set piece.
Laryea Kingston stepped up to take the kick after Sulley Muntari had been fouled and found the back of the net when he curled the ball beyond Mensah Celic to make it 2-0 for Ghana.
Ghana made a double substitution bringing on Andre Ayew and Mousa Narry for Laryea Kingson and Stephen Appiah.
The Black Stars, enjoying total control as time ticked, ran down the clock as they drew applause from the expectant crowd with their sleek passing.
In the final moments, Ghana made another substitution when deputy captain, John Mensah was pulled out because of injury for Anthony Annan.
The Black Stars would play Benin's Squirrels in Wednesday's final at 17:30 hrs GMT for the $70,000 prize money after the 3rd and 4th place game between Togo and the United Arab Emirates which starts at 15:00 hrs GMT.
Ghana line up:
Richard Kingson, Hans Adu Sarpei, John Paintsil, Kofi Amponsah, John Mensah/ Anthony Annan, Michael Essien, Laryea Kingston/Andre Ayew, Matthew Amoah/Baffour Gyan, Junior Agogo, Stephen Appiah/Moussa Narry, Sulley Muntari
Host nation, Ghana would take to the field on Sunday in the Zenith Bank 4-Nation International Tournament with a tough game on the cards against rivals, Togo.
Both teams would play at the Ohene Djan stadium with either side looking for the win which would secure them a place in the finals of the mini tournament.
Despite Togo missing out for next year's African Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Adebayor and teammates are putting the pain behind them as they rally to take on Ghana.
“There's nothing important than an African player playing in the African Cup of Nations because it's our tournament. For me, I was a bit disappointed because I would be watching all my friends playing on TV in January.
“We would like to be involved in Africa. But that's part of the job and we have to keep on doing it and hopefully in 2010, we would do our best to qualify,” the Arsenal player told media on Saturday.
Now ahead of Sunday's game, Ghana's team for the game might look like a star-studded side but the lone ranger from the opposite side, Emmanuel Adebayor, says everyone would be doing his job and just wants to enjoy the game.
“Ï am not here to override anyone. I am here to play against Ghana and the first game for me is the more important thing.
“Michael Essien is a very good friend of mine and Sulley Muntari, I love him because he is a very good player, he is a kind person and gentleman and tomorrow we have a game against them.
Ghana Football Association Ghana Football Association
“In football, your job is you job, that is how they see it and we see it to be. At the moment we just want to enjoy ourselves on the pitch and after we have a good discussion.
“I am not here to override someone. I am just here to play my football like how I want to play it,” Adebayor said.
The winner of Sunday's game sets up a date with Benin in Wednesday's finals for the $70,000 prize money while the loser goes for the 3rd and 4th positions.
The tourney would afford Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy, the chance to see his team play and react before an expectant home crowd before the African Cup of Nations kick off on January 20 - February 10.