CFR Cluj forward Emmanuel Yeboah scored a first-half hat-trick as the Black Meteors recorded a 4-1 win over Zamalek SC on Tuesday afternoon.
Ghana faced the Egyptian Premier League side in their second friendly game as part of preparations for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be staged in Morocco this weekend.
Ibrahim Tanko’s side came into the game on a back of a 1-1 draw against Egypt’s U-23 team and the defending champions of the tournament last week.
Yeboah opened the scoring for the Black Meteors in the opening 10 minutes of the game with Ghana getting a dream start.
However, they were pegged back immediately with Zamalek getting the equaliser on the 16th-minute mark.
The Cluj striker struck once again nine minutes after the equaliser to restore Ghana’s lead and put them in the driving seat.
He completed his hat-trick in the 41st minute, becoming the first player to score three goals for any of the men’s national team since Jordan Ayew against South Korea ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana grabbed a fourth through Emmanuel Appau to give the Meteors a three-goal lead.
Prior to the end of the half, Zamalek were handed a penalty but Jordan Amissah, who was playing in place of Danlad Ibrahim, stepped up to save from the spot.
The second half was all about controlling the game for Tanko’s side who did just that and saw the majority of the ball despite the coach making tweaks to his team.
Yeboah and Sylvester Simba came off in the 78th minute of the with the Black Meteors still leading 4-1 in the game.
But for the offside flag, Zubairu Ibrahim would have scored Ghana’s fifth and made up for the red card he suffered in the game against Egypt.
The game ended 4-1 with Ghana wrapping up their camping in the North African country ahead of their first game at the U-23 AFCON against Congo on Sunday, June 25.
Source: myjoyonline.com
