Live Commentary: Ghana 1-1 Libya - as it happened

Good afternoon. It's around half an hour until kickoff between the early frontrunners in Group B at the African Nations Championship. Both teams are unbeaten after the opening round of fixtures.

We're awaiting full confirmation of both teams, but it looks like Ghana have made a change to the XI that started against Congo on Monday. Michael Akuffo comes in for Jackson Owusu.

GHANA STARTING XI: Adams, Saka, Joshua, Sulley, Adusei, Akuffo, Opoku, Mpong, Mohammed, Sulley, Anobaah

LIBYA STARTING XI: Fathi, Salama, Fetori, El Trbi, Sabbou, Elhouni, Elhadi, Ghanodi, Al Badri, Elgadi, Abushnaf

Libya will no doubt be looking towards El Mutasem Abushnaf to build on his strong performance in their win over Ethiopia earlier this week. The striker scored the opening goal, and continued to pose a threat throughout.

Theophilus Anobaah scored the only goal in Ghana's win over Congo on Monday, and starts again this afternoon. However, Sulley Mohammed, Joshua Tijani and Yahaya Mohammed also looked sharp in front of goal for the Black Stars.

Realistically, if either side manages a win this afternoon, they should be all but guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals. Congo and Ethiopia, the other two teams in Group B, face each other later today in a bid to keep themselves in contention for a last eight spot.

The players are making their way onto the pitch ready for kickoff. We'll hear both team's national anthems before the game gets underway.

PREDICTION! While the pre-match formalities continue, let's make a quick prediction. Libya looked strong in their opening match of the tournament, but I think Ghana were unlucky not to have won by more than one goal. I think they should have enough to continue their winning run this afternoon, so I'm going for a 2-1 Ghana win.

As with earlier in the week, it's not the biggest crowd for these two teams today with plenty of empty seats at the Free State Stadium.

Libya get the game underway.

Libya try to go on the attack from the kickoff and win a free kick, but it's easily blocked for the Ghanaians. Richard Mpong charges down the other end for Ghana and manages to win the opening corner of the match.

CHANCE! Anobaah tries to lash it in from the edge of the box from the corner delivery, but his initial effort is blocked, before his second bobbles wide. It's been a lively start by both sides.

Yahaya whips in a dangerous cross from out side for Ghana, and Fathi has to tip the ball behind, giving Ghana their second corner of the match, but the goalkeeper is able to deal with that as well to temporarily relieve the pressure, but Ghana are on the attack again.

Ghana win a free kick, which Richard Mpong sends into the box, and Yahaya Mohammed is ready to take the chance, beating the Libya keeper with a powerful header to put the Black Stars ahead. It's a fantastic finish from the midfielder.

CHANCE! Ghana are already pushing for their second, with Sulley playing the ball through to Michael Akuffo, but the midfielder's shot from 25 yards out goes well wide.

There could be a problem for Libya here as Abushnaf, who scored their opening goal of the tournament, needs attention from the team's physio after trying to win the ball back in midfield. He's looked likely when dropping back into midfield today, but has little service up front.

Libya try a couple of long balls to get some service to their strikers, but twice get penalised for offside. Compared to Ghana's fast, smooth passing style, Libya have looked a little stretched in the opening quarter of an hour.

Ghana have another corner, which El Gadi has a chance to clear for Libya, but he almost spills it into the path of Sulley, before just getting it away in time.

BOOKING! Kwabena Adusei receives the first booking of the match for charging into the back of El Hadi.

CHANCE! Ghana remain in control and Yahaya looks for his second, climbing high inside the box before heading towards the target in search of his second goal of the match, but it goes just wide. Unfortunately for Ghana, it looks like the dangerous striker has injured his ankle after landing awkwardly in the box.

CHANCE! Yahaya is back on his feet and appears to be on a mission to single-handedly seal the Ghana win. Having already had two shots on target on one go just wide, the scorer of the opening goal goes for a powerful strike from distance, but it finishes just to the left of the target.

The challenges are really flying in at the moment. A late challenge from behind leaves Sulley Mohammed on the ground, and he has to be helped to the sideline. From the free kick, Yahaya tries to impose himself on the edge of the box, but gives away a free kick for a clumsy shove on Salama.

Godfred Saka makes a superb run from the back down the win as Ghana press again. The defender crosses the ball into the box, but he hasn't got any teammates in support to get the touch. That would surely have been a simple tap in if someone had been there.

BOOKING! Michael Akuffo picks up a yellow card for a shove on Abushnaf in midfield.

SUB! Sulley Mohammed's afternoon is over. He can't continue after picking up an injury, so Kennedy Boateng comes off the bench to take his place.

CHANCE! A mix up at the back by Ghana almost gives El Gadi an easy finish, but he can't quite control the ball in time to slot home a Libya equaliser. There haven't been many chances for Libya so far today, but that's just a reminder for Ghana that they can and will attack when presented with the opportunity.

BOOKING! Mohamed El Gadi is the first Libyan player to be shown a yellow card after clattering into the back of Yahaya.

CHANCE! Ghanudi sends in a superb cross for Libya, which Adams has to tip behing to give Libya their first corner of the game. Abushnaf gets a chance, but puts the ball wide. Meanwhile, Mpong appears to have picked up an injury while defending the corner and is stretchered to the sideline. It would be a big blow if Ghana were forced to make a second change before the break.

Libya have started to see a little more of the ball in the last 10 minutes of so, but are still struggling to really test the Ghana defenders, but they do have another corner.

CHANCE! Libya forget to defend Yahaya, giving him plenty of space in the penalty area to line up a strike to double Ghana's lead, but a fantastic save from Mohamed Fathi just keeps the ball out.

CHANCE! El Gadi slides the ball forward for Ghanudi, who unleashes a thunderous strike from just inside the penalty area, but Adams is just able to parry the ball over for a corner.

Libya get a couple of headers from the resulting corner but Adams is just able to keep them out. He's lucky though, as he twice drops the ball after making the saves

So at the end of a thoroughly entertaining first half, Ghana lead thanks to an early strike from Yahaya Mohammed.

Ghana probably deserve to be ahead, having dominated the majority of the opening 45 minutes, but Libya created some good chances towards the end of the half, with Stephen Adams looking shaky in the Black Stars goal.

Yahaya Mohammed has been impressive for Ghana. His goal put them ahead, but he continued to create chances throughout the first half, and could easily have had another goal before the break.

Injuries could become a big of a problem for the Ghanaian side though. They've already been forced to make one change after Sulley Mohammed picked up a leg injury, while Richard Mpong also sustained a knock before the break.

The players are making their way back out ready for the second half. With the second match in Group B taking place in this stadium later, the crowd is starting to grow, so it's a more lively atmosphere at the Free State Stadium now.

Ghana get the second half underway.

Ghana have started this half in the same manner that they started the first half, immediately applying pressure inside the Libya box. The Black Stars win a free kick out wide, which is curled in in front of goal, but Fathi is able to punch it away.

CHANCE! A fine cross into the Ghana box from Ghanudi falls for Abushnaf, but he sends it straight at Adams, giving the Ghana keeper an easy save.

SUB! Abdul Mohammed comes off the bench in place of Theophilus Anobaah, who limps to the sideline.

CHANCE! Ghana have a free kick, which drops to Yahaya in the box, but it's put behind and initially awarded as a corner, but the referee gives Libya a free kick for a foul inside the penalty area.

SUB! Libya make their first change, with Ali El Hadi making way for Muataz Fadel.

PENALTY APPEAL! The ball is delivered into the box for Abushnaf, but Ghana's defender flock around the ball to ensure that the Libya dangerman does not get the chance to shoot. He looks to the referee, believing that he was fouled while being muscled out of the way, but no spot kick is awarded.

REFEREE SUB! There's a brief stoppage in play as the referee has to receive treatment for an apparent tight hamstring. The Libya physio comes to his rescue with some spray, but it looks like the Moroccan official is going to have to hand over to the reserve referee.

Ghana have a free kick near the sideline around 20 yards out. Saka comes up to curl it into the box, but he puts too much on the ball, blasting it behind for a Libya goal kick.

BOOKING! The new referee has a big decision to make as Yahaya is apparently brought down in the box, but the official decides that it was a dive and hands the goal scorer a yellow card. As he was booked earlier this week, that means he will miss their final group game against Ethiopia. Yahaya may feel a little hard done by, he probably could have stayed on his feet, but there was definitely a shove from El Trbi.

CHANCE! Fetori delivers a well-timed cross for Fadel, who dives in for a header, but sends the ball just wide. That was Libya's best chance of the second half so far.

BOOKING! Nuru Sulley brings down Ghanadi right on the edge of the box, and the referee gives the penalty, and books the Ghana player.

Faisal Ali confidently steps up to take the spot kick, and slots in underneath to dive from Adams to pick out the bottom right corner, and get Libya back on level terms.

Ghana respond straight away, quickly winning a corner down the other end as they push to restore their lead. It's initially cleared but Mpong tries to play it back in. However, he loses control of the ball as he plays his way into the box, allowing Fathi to gather.

There could be a problem for Libya as the goalkeeper appears to have injured himself while making the save. They still have two substitutions to make, but won't want to lose to shot stopper. Fortunately for the Libyans, it looks like he's alright to continue.

SUB! Libya do make a change, but it's not the goalkeeper going off, as Elmehdi Elhouni goes off for Ahmed Almaghasi.

There's a horrible three-way clash of heads between El Gadi and Sabbou from Libya and Mpong of Ghana. El Gadi is floured by the collision, and the referee immediately signals for the stretcher. There could be a few minutes delay while the midfielder receivers treatment. It was a really nasty looking collision!

El Gadi is stretchered off the pitch, but Libya haven't made a substitution yet while they continue to assess the midfielder. It actually looks like he might be able to continue as he jobs along the sideline.

Yahaya is on the attack for Congo as he looks to put them ahead for the second time this afternoon, but Libya manage to clear the immediate danger. Ghana win a corner, but some pushing and shoving in the box gives Libya the free kick.

SUB! Paul Asare is the final Ghana sub to come on this afternoon, replacing their goalscorer, Yahaya Mohammed, who struggles to make his way to the sideline, having put in a mighty shift for his country today.

CHANCE! Adams has to make a double save to stop Libya edging ahead. El Gadi shows no signs of any adverse effects from his earlier collision, blasting the ball towards the keeper. Ghanudi is there for the rebound, but the Ghana keeper is alert again and claims the ball.

SUB! Libya make their last change, with Almoatasembellah Mohamed replacing Mohamed Ghanudi.

Joshua Tijani gets the ball in the box for Ghana, but loses his footing and fails to get his shot away. Kennedy Boateng manages to keep possession for the Black Stars, but can only get a weak shot away, which is comfortably saved.

Both sides still have a decent change to find the winner, with six minutes of stoppage time to be played.

Libya win a free kick in a dangerous area, Ali Salama sends in a powerful strike directly from the set piece which will surely have left the keeper's hands stinging, but Adams does manage to get the ball behind for the corner, which is quickly cleared.

Since Libya's equaliser, both sides have had chances to edge ahead, but it looks like it's Libya who are having the stronger finish of the two sides.

Libya have another corner, but for the second corner in a row there's a foul in the box by the Libyan side, wasting the opportunity.

BOOKING! Muataz Faidel is the second Libya player to get a booking as he desperately lunges into challenge in a bid to halt a late Ghana attack.

The action-packed Group C match comes to an end, with honours finishing even, which means Libya hold on to top spot in the group for the time being.

Well that's all from this match, but stick around, as we'll have the build up and live coverage from the other fixture in Group C, Ethiopia against Congo, starting from 5.30pm. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon, goodbye.