Ghana revived their hopes of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 victory over Somalia, ending a troubled opening to their qualifying campaign and giving interim coach Kim Bjorkegren a winning start.
The Black Stars arrived at the meeting in Sekondi-Takoradi under pressure after defeats by Ivory Coast and The Gambia had left them without a point from their first two Group C fixtures. The setback also brought the departure of Carlos Queiroz, who left his position by mutual consent.
Bjorkegren, who normally coaches Ghana’s women’s team, has been asked to guide the men’s side through this month’s double-header against Somalia. The assignment carries particular weight for a country that has won the continental tournament four times and is at risk of missing a second consecutive finals.
A missed penalty before Ghana find their way
Ghana had an opportunity to take control early when Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the penalty area. Jordan Ayew, however, saw his 14th-minute spot-kick kept out by Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Hussein.
The hosts eventually broke through in first-half stoppage time. Mohammed Kudus delivered a corner deep into the area, where Mohammed Salisu redirected the ball across the face of goal. Jonas Adjetey reacted from close range to head Ghana in front from six yards.
That goal gave Ghana the platform they had been seeking, but Somalia remained in the contest until the Black Stars added a second shortly after the hour. Felix Afena-Gyan’s effort from inside the box slipped beneath Hussein and crossed the line, securing the result.
Group C pressure remains
The win places Ghana three points behind Ivory Coast and The Gambia, who were due to meet in Bouake at 19:00 GMT. The outcome of that fixture will help define the shape of the group, but Ghana’s immediate task was to stop their campaign from drifting after a deeply damaging start.
The result does not remove the pressure surrounding qualification. Ghana still have ground to recover, while the coaching position remains an interim arrangement. Nevertheless, the victory provides Bjorkegren and his players with a practical foundation as they continue the double-header against Somalia.
| Team or fixture | Position or outcome reported |
|---|---|
| Ghana | 2-0 winners against Somalia |
| Ivory Coast and The Gambia | Three points ahead of Ghana before their meeting |
| DR Congo | Top of Group E with nine points |
| Nigeria | Four points behind Guinea-Bissau in Group L |
DR Congo maintain perfect record
Elsewhere, DR Congo strengthened their position at the summit of Group E by defeating Sierra Leone 3-1 in Kinshasa. Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa opened the scoring as the Leopards preserved their perfect start and moved to nine points.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are both five points behind the leaders after playing out a goalless draw. The result leaves DR Congo with a clear advantage in the early standings, although the wider qualification campaign remains in progress.
Nigeria receive help from Madagascar draw
Nigeria also gained encouragement without taking to the field. Guinea-Bissau, the leaders of Group L, were held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar in a match played in neutral Morocco. The Super Eagles now trail the group leaders by four points ahead of their home fixture against Tanzania on Friday at 16:00 GMT.
Tanzania are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 tournament as co-hosts. That leaves Nigeria and the other sides competing for the remaining qualification place, adding significance to Friday’s match and to every dropped point in the group.
- Ghana’s victory was their first in Group C.
- Jordan Ayew missed an early penalty before Jonas Adjetey opened the scoring.
- Felix Afena-Gyan added Ghana’s second after the interval.
- DR Congo remain perfect in Group E, while Nigeria benefited from Guinea-Bissau’s draw.
For Ghana, the night was ultimately about recovery rather than celebration. A campaign that had threatened to unravel has been given new life, but the Black Stars must now build on their first success and close the gap on the teams above them if they are to avoid another absence from Africa’s leading international tournament.
