Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has confessed that luck played a crucial role in their 1-0 Group D opening game against Botswana at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The four-time African champions appeared nervy against the debutants and were given a good run for their money by the southern Africans, who looked determined for a win but lacked steam in attack.
The Zebras mounted pressure on a 10-man Black Stars and came close to cancelling the west Africans� lead but defender John Boye was on hand to clear a goal-bound ball off the line.
Gyan believes that despite the luck, the southern Africans made a case for their maiden appearance at the continental showpiece.
�We were lucky we won by 1-0 and this shows the character our boys had and we had the red card, we kept our composure, we possessed the ball, the way we did,� the Al Ain marksman said after the game.
�We've got a lot of experience and this is the first time for Botswana so we knew what they were going to do.
�All the 11 players were behind the ball and so it was difficult for them to score as well,� the Ghanaian star stated.
Ghana�s next game is against Mali on January 28.
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