Muntari of Ghana kicking winning goal.

Ghana 2 - 1 Guinea

Asamoah Gyan (pen 54) Sulley Muntari (89)

Oumar Kalabane (64)

from: Ghana CAN 2008

Sulley Muntari produced a last-gasp magic to give hosts Ghana a win in their opening Africa Cup of Nations game against Guinea, at the sold-out 40, 000 Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Muntari rifled a 25-yard shot into the top corner in the dying minutes of the game to unleashed his trademark left-foot bullet from midway in the Guinea half to revive the planned party by the crowd.

The Black Stars hit the post three times in the first half before Asamoah Gyan put the team in the lead after 54 minutes with a penalty following a foul on Junior Agogo by Oumar Kalabane.

Agogo was scythed down by Kalabane as he sprinted into the box to earn the Black Stars a penalty after he had been played in by Gyan.

The Udinese striker shrugged off any nerves to slam the ball into the roof of the net, sending the home crowd into riotous celebration.

Kalabane made amends with a headed equaliser for Guinea.

Gyan had the best early chance, having been played in by Muntari on six minutes before shooting wide from 15 yards and then found himself with another opportunity within 20 seconds thanks to a poor goal-kick from Guinea goalkeeper Kemoko Camara.

Quincey Owusu-Abeyie became a growing threat to Guinea, providing tricks and crosses from the left wing with Michael Essien and Muntari beginning to pull the strings.

With the crowd behind the host and the players looking warmed into the game, Junior Agogo smashed a header against the post on 20 minutes to crank up the pressure on the Sylli Nationale when he was picked out by Owusu-Abeyie’s cross.

But it was Essien who had the whole stadium on their feet again, when he hit the post again from a Laryea Kingston left-wing corner with Muntari firing a half-volley thunderbolt against the upright - Ghana's third close miss of the half.

Guinea coach Robert Nouzaret changed to a more attacking formation and his side rallied by creating a number of openings.

The pressure paid off when Oumar Kallabane towered above two Black Star defenders to thump home a header from a Pascal Feindouno corner.

The initiative was now with Guinea, as Ghana once again looked under pressure.