Ghana's Black Stars secured their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, defeating Somalia 2-0 at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium on Thursday. The win comes after a disappointing start to the campaign, with losses to Ivory Coast and The Gambia that led to the departure of coach Carlos Queiroz by mutual consent.
Penalty Miss and First-Half Breakthrough
Ghana had an early opportunity to take the lead when Alidu Seidu was brought down in the box, but Jordan Ayew's 14th-minute penalty was saved by Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Hussein. The hosts persisted and broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Mohammed Salisu headed Mohammed Kudus's deep corner back across goal, and Jonas Adjetey nodded in from close range to give Ghana a 1-0 lead at the break.
Second-Half Seal
Just after the hour mark, Felix Afena-Gyan doubled Ghana's advantage. His shot from inside the box squirmed under Hussein and over the line, securing the three points for the Black Stars.
The result lifts Ghana to three points in Group C, three behind leaders Ivory Coast and The Gambia, who were set to meet later in Bouake. The win is a timely boost for the four-time continental champions, who are desperate to avoid missing a second consecutive Afcon finals.
Interim Coach Kim Bjorkegren
Ghana women's coach Kim Bjorkegren was in interim charge for this match and will also lead the team in the reverse fixture against Somalia. The Swedish coach faces a tough task in revitalizing the Black Stars' campaign, but the victory over Somalia is a step in the right direction.
Other Afcon 2027 Qualifiers
Cameroon, DR Congo, and Senegal are among seven other Afcon 2027 qualifiers scheduled for Thursday. The road to the tournament in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania continues as teams battle for a place in the expanded 24-team finals.
Ghana will look to build on this win when they face Somalia again in the coming days, hoping to keep their qualification hopes alive.
