AFCON 2027Q: Black Stars beat Somalia on return to Sekondi after 16 years
Black Stars beat Somalia on return to Sekondi after 16 years. The result moves Ghana to the third position in Group C, three points ahead of Somalia and three points behind Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia, who play later in the day.
The Black Stars picked up their first win of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following their victory over Somalia on Thursday, November 12.
Ghana earned a 2-0 win over the Somalis at the Essipong Sports Stadium to breathe hope into their quest for an AFCON return.
Interim head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren handed starts to Mohammed Kudus, Mohammed Salisu, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey on their return to the squad.
Adjetey scored on the stroke of halftime to give Ghana the lead after what looked like a lifeless opening 45 minutes before Felix Afena-Gyan scored in the second half.
Ayew had a good opportunity to give the Black Stars the lead in the early minutes of the game, but the skipper missed from the penalty spot after Alidu Seidu was fouled in the box.
The miss from the spot was Ayew’s first for the national team in ten attempts, having scored his previous nine.
Ayew should have scored moments after the penalty miss, but his header from close range didn’t get the needed connection.
Just when the first half seemed to be headed for a draw, Adjetey broke the deadlock with a close-range header to give Bjorkegren’s side the lead to go into the break 1-0.
Mohammed Salisu, who assisted the opener, came close to scoring the second 11 minutes into the second half, but his header went a little high over the post.
Ten minutes later, the lead was doubled. Afena-Gyan was played through by Mohammed Kudus before the Turkish-based forward wrapped his leg around the ball to beat the goalkeeper, making it 2-0.
In the 75th minute, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh made his first Black Stars appearance since the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He came close to scoring in the 77th minute, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
The result moves Ghana to the third position in Group C, three points ahead of Somalia and three points behind Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia, who play later in the day.
Ghana’s next game is against Somalia on Monday, November 16, at the Essipong Stadium.
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