GHANA 1 - 1 BURKINA FASO: Kabore runs the show as Burkina Faso dominate Ghana

Burkina Faso will face Nigeria in the final after putting out a dominant performance against Ghana. They outclassed their opponents in every department; midfield, set pieces, ball possession and finally penalties.  Burkina Faso made two changes, Bance replaced his captain upfront and Nakoulma started wide right after impressing in the game against Togo where he came on as a substitute. Ghana stuck to their 4-2-3-1 formation but Asamoah played wide left and Wakaso behind Gyan.
 

Midfield:
 

Both teams had three central midfielders, a double pivot and a player behind the main striker thus creating a 3 v 3 in the middle of the park.  Burkina Faso pressed well not allowing Ghana to play out from the back making it extremely difficult for their opponents to play through them. Ghana’s goal kicks and long balls hoping to bypass their opponent’s midfield bore no fruit as most were over hit or simply intercepted by the Burkina Faso backline.
 

The two most notable movements were that of Pitroipa and Kabore. Pitroipa didn’t hug the touchline out on the left wing but either floated between the lines or when he received the ball wide, dribbled inside. This had three effects;
 

1) With him floating between the lines it effectively turned the 3v3 into a 4v3 in favour of Burkina Faso and this was largely why they dominated possession and the game.
 

2) Kabore could drop deep, receive the ball and get himself involved in the buildup play. ( Burkina Faso made sure to play out from the back although on several occasions they were caught on the ball)  This was done safe in the knowledge that Pitroipa would then come occupy the space that he has just vacated. When He did get the ball he varied the distribution between diagonal balls to the flanks or balls over the Ghanaian defense.  In the first half, there were 3 diagonal balls that were over hit out wide and 3 balls over the top 2 of which the intended player was caught offside and one which found Nakoulma who shot over the crossbar. Everything that Burkina Faso did in the offensive phase passed through Kabore who put in a man of the match performance.
 

3) The fullback on the wing that Pitroipa was stationed had to play higher up, more like a wingback than a fullback. He spent the majority of the first half down their left flank and so Panandetiguibi became the wingback. Sadly though, Panandetiguibi and Koffi , the two fullbacks, weren’t involved in the play once Burkina Faso entered the final third, opting to look for creativity from the front three.
 

Ghana:
 

Ghana’s goal was a tad fortunate and their overall play was poor. Their balls forward never found the intended target and Gyan at times looked isolated. His opposite number, Bance combined well with his midfielders when the ball was played forward to him. The goal they conceded came as they tried to play out from the back, got pressed and lost the ball in their defensive third.
 

With Pitroipa positioned more central than out wide, Ghana’s play and Gyan’s movement passed through their right wing, tring to exploit the space left behind by Nakoulma due to his high positioning. Atsu was the one who tried to make use of this space getting a shot on target. This pattern continued in the second half but this tym it happened down Burkina Faso’s right flank were Pitroipa had now moved to. Gyan’s chance that hit the post came from a ball behind the right back Koffi, now exposed with Pitroipa having shifted to this side.
 

Extra time:
 

Burkina Faso had numerous opportunities to win the game during this period including a disallowed goal. These 30 minutes were reminiscent of the first 45. Kabore, still influential was involved in the buildup to those chances. Hiss diagonal balls and balls over the top continued but this time with greater success as compared to the first half. The influence he had was so massive, setting up 5 of the six chances that Burkina Faso had in this period.
1) Diagonal ball for Bance who misses
2) Long ball over the top, Nakoulma scores but goal disallowed
3) Ghana try to play out from the back, Kabore presses, ball lost and a chance for Bance
4) Another long ball for Bance over the top
5) Short corner Bance’s shot cleared off the line
 

Ghana still had problems playing out from the back. They still continued to attack down the right wing where as in the first half; space was available as Pitroipa continued to stay more central.  A similar shot to that in the first half by Atsu and a header over the crossbar by Gyan were the two chances that Ghana managed to create.
 

Burkina Faso thoroughly deserved to progress to the final. Ghana’s performance throughout the tournament has been circumspect, more so against Cape Verde where they got lucky. The unfortunate part is that Pitroipa will miss the final.