South Africa v Ghana: Gyan to beat Bafana Bafana

Despite reports of malaria, Asamoah Gyan should get stronger as the tournament progresses

Dave Farrar predicts Asamoah Gyan will lead Ghana to progress against a talented South African team...

South Africa v Ghana
Tuesday, 18:00
Live on British Eurosport 2

Ghana roared back into contention for the Cup of Nations thanks to that last-minute goal from Asamoah Gyan against Algeria, and suddenly Group C looks as confusing as the rest of the tournament. 

If you needed further reinforcement of the idea that this is the most open international competition then you need look no further than the climax of Group A on Sunday. Gabon and Burkina Faso both looked like certainties to qualify against two of the weaker teams on the continent, and yet it was Congo and Equatorial Guinea that made it. 

Not only should we have backed the 1-1 draw in every game, we should have backed that up by laying favourites left, right and centre.  

Ghana start as favourites here to beat South Africa and the nature of things over the past week means that we must tread carefully. They are 2.285/4 to beat a talented South African team, and, with a nervous feeling, I believe that they're good enough to justify that price and head for the quarter-finals. 

Ghana were one of my pre tournament selections, and you can look to the influence of Gyan to justify their progression. He has scored in each of his last six internationals, was missing from the defeat by Senegal (a match in which Ghana were a touch unfortunate) and is now trying to carry them through on his shoulders. 

If you listen to Quinton Fortune on ITV, then he is most certainly not recovering from malaria, but merely from a severe stomach bug, and he'll surely get stronger now. His coach, his team mates, the whole Ghanaian football world talk of his positive influence, the sense that he can make things happen.

Considering the belief that gives Ghana, then I think that they'll be too good for South Africa. Bafana Bafana are comfortably the best team to watch at this Cup of Nations, and were unlucky against both Algeria and Senegal. But for all of their brilliant play outside the area, they don't have a match-winner like Gyan. And, disturbing analogy that it may seem, I'm lumping all of my eggs into his basket. 

The fact that South Africa are missing a key central defender in the shape of Thulani Hlatshwayo can only help Ghana, and for all of their delicate brilliance, I think that South Africa will wave goodbye, and Ghana will win a game that they need to. 

Recommended Bet:
Back Ghana to beat South Africa @ 2.285/4