Analysis
The Black Stars play as if they have understood and mastered one major guideline: it is not how well you perform that counts but how good you are at finding your way out.
In their quarter-finals, for example, only two of their eight shots were on target; they converted these two strikes to win the match 2-0. Confidence is high in Ghana’s camp thanks to the influence of names like striker Wakaso and goalkeeper Dauda.
With three clean sheets and eight goals in their four Africa Cup of Nations matches, the Black Stars look free from headaches at the back or upfront. Remarkably, they have done that without the help of the influential Ayew brothers whom coach Kwesi Appiah controversially excluded from the AFCON 2013 squad.
The Ghanaians are relishing the options of affronting old foes Nigeria or completing the double against Group B rivals Mali in the final.
Burkina Faso, on the other hand, have stunned the public – including their own fans. They were hardly given a chance of reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, let alone heading out of the group stages.
Team work has paid off well for Les Etalons. More importantly, their disciplined defensive plans have worked perfectly. Since conceding a goal from Nigeria’s Emenike on Matchday 1, Burkina Faso no player has managed to drive a ball past their goal line.
Prior to this tournament, Burkina Faso had gone past Round 1 only once. On that occasion, they achieved a fourth-placed finish – their best AFCON record so far. To go one better, they must do what the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde failed to do in the previous round: to spit out hot favourites Ghana from the title race.
Ghana’s most recent match stats (2-0 win against Cape Verde)
Ball possession: 54 per cent; Corners: 4; Shots on target: 2; Shots wide: 6; Fouls: 25; Offsides: 4
Burkina Faso’s most recent match stats (1-0 win after extra-time against Togo)
Ball possession: 54 per cent; Corners: 5; Shots on target: 3; Shots wide: 8; Fouls: 27; Offsides: 1
Prediction
Ghana 1-0 Burkina Faso
