Ghana Black Stars’ bid to qualify for their 10th successive African Cup of Nations was placed on ice yesterday by Madagascar who held the four-time champions to a plucky barren game at the Stade Barea Mahamasina in Antananarivo.

Though the Stars, who are on nine points, retained leadership position in Group E with that result, their performance was nearly white-bread and fell below expectation.

It was an overwhelming victory for Ghana when the two teams clashed a year ago at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium as the Stars swept their opponents away with a 3-0 scoreline. Ghanaians may have anticipated a similar victory yesterday against the Malagasy to seal qualification. Not this time!

Though eliminated from the qualifying campaign with just a solitary point going into yesterday’s tie, the Malagasy played as though they needed the result for a lifeline. It was evident their main aim was to evade defeat against Ghana, so they could bow out with their heads held high. They succeeded.

Indeed, ahead of the game, Madagascar’s Barea had lost three, drawn one – conceding nine goals and scoring one. Evidently, this was not a record that the 2019 Nations Cup quarter-finalists would be proud of. It was the reason they began the afternoon on a tamed fashion – warming up vigorously into the afternoon, and never looked back.

It took about half an hour for the home team to find their rhythm. And, when they did, they were a lovely sight to behold as they strung some sweet passes together, showing quality on the ball and creating a lot of anxious moments for the Ghanaian rear.