ACCRA - Junior Agogo scored the only goal as Ghana laboured to a 1-0 victory against dogged Namibia in the African Nations Cup on Thursday.
The hosts seemed to struggle to get into gear as the Brave Warriors put up stubborn resistance in the Group A clash in Accra, with Agogo's 41st-minute strike proving the difference.
The win put Claude Le Roy's team on six points and in a strong position to qualify, while Namibia remain pointless after losing their opening game to Morocco, but it was a much improved performance from the Southern Africans.
Ghana predictably made the early running and Sulley Muntari hit a spectacular bicycle kick early on which flew straight at Attiel Mbaha from the edge of the penalty area and brought the crowd to life.
Four minutes later Laryea Kingston's teasing cross from the right was well struck by Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from eight yards, but Mbaha pushed the danger away superbly with his feet.
Agogo had a decent chance immediately after, but captain Elias Pienaar came to the rescue with a last-ditch tackle, before good control from the Ghanaian forward allowed him to create space and shoot inches wide from the edge of the area.
Brian Brendall then had the best chance for the Namibians in the first half after being put through by Rudolf Bester, but his shot from the right side of the penalty area was struck poorly across the face of goal.
Kingston floated a cross in just after the half-hour and a goalkeeping blunder allowed Muntari in, but he fired over with the goalkeeper on the ground.
Another error by Mbaha gifted a golden opportunity to Asamoah Gyan but he missed from six yards. The goalkeeper had been slow to react to a through-ball and fell over, but Gyan could not capitalise.
Four minutes before the break, Namibia's brave resistance was eventually broken when Owusu-Abeyie crossed the ball from the right and Agogo sent a scuffed backheel over the line, handing his side a half-time lead.
After the break, Ghana continued to press forward without much reward as clear chances proved hard to come by.
Namibia suddenly surprised the hosts when Brendall had two chances in succession in the 66th minute.
The first he fired narrowly wide to the right and his second shot from 20 yards almost caught out Richard Kingston.
Muna Katupose then blazed across the face of goal from a corner as Namibia pressed forward.
Agogo headed a Muntari free-kick into the crowd, before substitute Andre Ayew gave the crowd something to cheer about with his tidy movement up front, but chances were at a premium and the home side had to settle for a 1-0 win.
