Ghana finally have a win in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. It took a change of coach, a missed penalty and 45 nervous minutes in Sekondi-Takoradi, but a 2-0 victory over Somalia on Thursday gives the Black Stars their first points in Group C and keeps alive a campaign that had started with two straight defeats.
Ayew's penalty saved, Adjetey makes amends
It should have been easier. Alidu Seidu was pulled down in the area early on and Jordan Ayew, now at Sheffield United in the Championship after two seasons with Leicester City, stepped up in the 14th minute. Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Hussein saved it.
The longer the half went on the more that miss mattered, because Ghana had lost to both Ivory Coast and The Gambia in their opening group games and could not afford a third slip. The goal came in first-half stoppage time. Mohammed Kudus swung over a deep corner, Mohammed Salisu headed it back across goal and Jonas Adjetey nodded in from six yards.
Afena-Gyan settles it
Felix Afena-Gyan got the second just after the hour. He shot from inside the box and Hussein, the hero of the first quarter of an hour, let it squirm underneath him and over the line. Harsh on the goalkeeper. Somalia, known as the Ocean Stars, had held a four-time African champion until the last seconds of the first half.
The two sides meet again in the second half of this month's double-header, and Ghana will go into it with something they have not had in this campaign: a lead to build on.
A women's team coach in the dugout
The bench looked different too. Carlos Queiroz left by mutual consent after those two defeats, and the Ghana FA turned to Kim Bjorkegren, who coaches the women's national team, to take interim charge of the men for both Somalia games. It is an unusual arrangement. It has also produced Ghana's first points of the group at the first attempt.
The stakes are plain enough. Ghana missed the last Afcon finals and were in real danger of missing a second in a row. Thursday's result leaves them three points behind Ivory Coast and The Gambia, who were playing each other in Bouake later in the evening.
Guinea-Bissau slip hands Nigeria an opening
Elsewhere on Thursday, Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa scored the opener as DR Congo beat Sierra Leone 3-1 in Kinshasa. That is three wins from three for the Leopards, who sit on nine points in Group E, five clear of Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea after those two drew 0-0.
Nigerian supporters will have been watching Group L. Leaders Guinea-Bissau were held 1-1 by Madagascar in a game played on neutral ground in Morocco, which leaves the Super Eagles four points behind them before Friday's home match against Tanzania (16:00 GMT). Tanzania are already sure of their place as co-hosts, so only one qualifying spot is on offer between the other three. A Nigeria win on Friday cuts the gap to one.
Match facts: Ghana 2-0 Somalia, 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Group C, Sekondi-Takoradi, Thursday 12 November 2026. Goals: Jonas Adjetey, first-half stoppage time (assist Mohammed Salisu, from a Mohammed Kudus corner); Felix Afena-Gyan, just after the hour. Jordan Ayew had a 14th-minute penalty saved by Ibrahim Hussein. Ghana interim coach: Kim Bjorkegren.
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