Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer has revealed that the presence of talented Ghana players who can punish any team in the world led to the Black Stars thrashing his side 3-0 in the quarter-final of the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Malabo on Sunday.
The Frenchman said the early goal scored by the Black Stars unsettled the Sylli Nationale who failed to recover as they slumped to the heavy defeat against the four-time champions.
Atsu opened the scoring for the Group C winners in the third minute and Kwesi Appiah, making his first competitive start, doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime, firing home from close range after a defensive howler.
Atsu then added a sublime third midway through the second half, with a long-range effort which looks likely to be a contender for goal of the tournament.
A wonder goal from Christian Atsu helped Avram Grant’s Ghana into their fifth straight African Nations Cup semi-final with a 3-0 victory over disappointing Guinea on Sunday.
Not since 2006 have Ghana failed to reach the last four of the Nations Cup, and defeated Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer praised Avram Grant’s team, albeit questioning if things might have been different for his own.
“Ghana has potential difference-makers, if we make mistakes, we can’t advance. If you consider the first goal, then the second, just before halftime, it becomes near-impossible to come back," Dussuyer said.
“We complicated the match with that goal right at the beginning, there was an immediate loss of confidence, then the gift, things become very complicated against a talented team like Ghana.”
Ghana were convincing, but Guinea, who only progressed from Group D following the drawing of lots with Mali, did not do themselves justice and looked weary throughout.
Grant's side celebrated their goals jubilantly with new choreographed dances and were able to see out the contest without much incident as Guinea, whose goalkeeper Naby Yattara was sent off for a late flying kick at Asamoah Gyan, faded.