Ghana's opponents South Africa recovered from the setback of an early goal to earn a credible 1-1 draw with fellow AFCON 2015 participants Cameroon in a friendly game at Stade de L'amitie in Gabon on Saturday night.
It was a decent performance from South Africa, who enjoyed extended periods of dominance on a hot an humid Saturday evening in Libreville, especially in an improved second-half showing.
Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba made six changes to the side that beat Zambia 1-0 in their previous friendly game, with Dean Furman, Andile Jali and Bernard Parker notable returns to the starting XI.
His team, however, found themselves under pressure in the very first minute when Vincent Aboubacar nearly got on the end of a through ball into the box, with keeper Brilliant Khuzwayo doing well to come off his line to intervene.
The west Africans continued to look dangerous early on and were ahead in the seventh minute when Aboubacar curled in a free-kick past a slightly wrong-footed Khuzwayo from the edge of the 18-yard area, following a foul by Themba Zwane.
Following the goal, Mashaba's men began to find some rhythm in their play and enjoyed good ball possession, but struggled to penetrate a well-organized Cameroon defence.
Parker was unable to find any joy with a free-kick on the half-hour mark, while the same player whistled a parting shot inches wide of the far post after some good interplay five minutes before half-time.
South Africa continued to get into some good positions after the restart, but lacked composure around the box as promising situations failed to deliver shots on goal.
Cameroon 'keeper Fabrice Ondoa was, however, called into action on 57 minutes, reacting smartly to palm Thabo Matlaba's stinging drive to safety following a surging run from Tokelo Rantie.
The Indomitable Lions had a rare chance on goal six minutes later, but were unable to get a decisive touch during a goal-mouth scramble as Bafana Bafana narrowly escaped going 2-0 down.
Instead, Mashaba was to keep his unbeaten record intact when parity was restored with 15 minutes left to play as substitute Sibusiso Vilakazi picked the ball up out on the right hand side of the field, before cutting into the box with a powerful run and clinically stabbing the ball past Ondoa.
Fellow substitute Thuso Phala also came close to making his mark on the game when he showed a clean pair of heels down the left wing in the 82nd minute, only to see his tantalising cross narrowly elude his team-mates in the box.
The closing minutes of the game saw some exciting football as the game opened up, but both defences were able to scramble to the ball to safety as the match ended all square.
South Africa's AFCON campaign starts on January 19, when they take on Algeria, followed by matches against Senegal and Ghana on the 23rd and 27th of January respectively. Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Brilliant Khuzwayo, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Anele Ngcongca, Dean Furman, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Themba Zwane, Tokelo Rantie, Bernard Parker
Cameroon: Ondoa, Bedimo, Chedjou, Bagnack , Guihoata, Mandjeck, Loe, Njie, Etoundi, Salli, Aboubacar