The New Nation - Internet Edition

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Sulley Muntari scored in the 90th minute Sunday to give host Ghana a 2-1 win over Guinea in the opening match of the African Cup of Nations.

Muntari ran through the defense and sent a 25-yard shot past Guinea goalkeeper Kemoko Camara to give the Black Stars three points in Group A. "It's never easy to win the first game," Ghana coach Claude LeRoy said.

Asamoah Gyan had given Ghana the lead in the 54th minute from the penalty spot, but Guinea tied it in the 64th when Oumar Kalabane scored.

Gyan got his goal after Kalabane had tripped Junior Agogo in the area. Kalabane made up for his foul by scoring off a corner from Ismael Bangoura.

On Monday, Morocco will face Namibia in the other group match.

Ghana hit the post three times in the first half, and had plenty of other chances.

"If we don't beat Morocco (on Thursday), then there's no point playing the third game," Guinea captain Pascale Feindounou said.

Guinea coach Robert Nouzaret called it the "worst performance" since he took over the team one year ago.

Ghana, a four-time African champion, played without injured midfielder Stephen Appiah. But there was still a carnival atmosphere in the streets leading up to the Ohene Djan stadium as flag-waving fans danced to the nonstop sound of whistles.

Some locals painted their bodies in the red, yellow and green colors of the national flag, while others walked on giant stilts or wore colorful face masks -- all accompanied by the incessant drum rhythm of local bands.

Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, CAF president Issa Hayatou, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini were among about 40,000 fans watching the opening ceremony, which featured hundreds of dancers and acrobats.