Ghana are close to sealing their place in the last eight an important 1-0 victory over Namibia at the African Nations Cup on Thursday.

Junior Agogo’s 40th minute debut goal at the African Cup of Nations sends Group A down to the wire as host as Ghana sit at the at the summit of the group after Morocco lost 3-2 to Guinea.

The Black Stars, thus keep their hundred percent record in the tournament have picked up two wins out of two matches so far.

Ghana, Morocco and Guinea all stand a chance of picking one of the two places in the quarter-finals from Group A.

Claude Le Roy parading an unchanged starting line up from the first game last Sunday saw his side come close with efforts from Laryea Kingston, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Junior Agogo and Asamoah Gyan seeing their attempts fail to put Ghana in the lead.

Agogo in the 18th minute beautifully controlled with the ball, showed skill but his final tap to the ball towards goal missed the upright by inches.

Namibia also came close after breaking on the left but Brian Brendell’s shoot wide when he was well-placed.

Then, the best chance for Ghana fell to Asamoah Gyan. But he blazed his shot over the bar from six yards out with an open goal his target.

However, Ghana finally got the breakthrough in the 40th minute. Junior Agogo was on hand to finish off with simple flick from inside the six-yard box after Quincy Owusu Abeyie's cross went past the Namibian defence.

The goal sent Ghana into the half 1-0 up.

Back from recess, the Namibians defended strongly like they did in the previous session. Yet Ghana still found some space but lacked the cutting edge to finish off their opponents.

Kingston suspended

Laryea Kingston, picked up the game’s first booking in the second half. And the Ghana winger is now suspended for the last group game against Morocco on Monday.

Namibia did their first substitution in the 65th minute as Claude Le Roy also effected two changes. Laryea Kingston gave way to Andre Ayew while Asamoah Gyan came off for senior brother, Baffour Gyan.

Minutes later, Namibia looked like finding the equaliser as Brendell again blazes wide after finding some space down the left.

The last ten minutes of the game had Ghana pushing to increase the scoreline but the Namibians, who played out a good game than they did in their first game sat back and occasionally tried going on the break.

Ghana's Michael Essien was voted the MTN Best Player of the Match.

In the first game of the day, Guinea captain Pascal Feindouno scored twice, only to be sent off as the Syli Nationale held on to beat Morocco 3-2.


Ghana line up:

Richard Kingson, John Paintsil, Hans Adu Sarpei, Eric Addo, John Mensah, Michael Essien, Laryea Kingston/Andre Ayew, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan/Baffour Gyan and Junior Agogo.

Used Subs: Andre Ayew, Baffour Gyan

Unused Subs: Sammy Adjei, Haminu Draman, Nana Kwasi Asare, Harrison Afful, Alhassan Illiasu, Anthony Annan, Bernard Kumordzi, Kwadwo Asamoah and Fatau Duada.