Ghana reignited their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Thursday.
The Black Stars picked up all three points in their opening Group C clash of the November international window, ending a five-match winless streak and handing interim head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren a winning start in competitive football.Ghana had a golden chance to go ahead in the 14th minute after Alidu Seidu was fouled inside the box, leading the referee to award a penalty. Captain Jordan Ayew, however, failed to convert from the spot, wasting the opportunity to put the hosts in front. The Black Stars kept pressing for the opener, dominating play against a well-organised Somali side. Their persistence finally paid off on the stroke of half-time when central defender Jonas Adjetey found the net to give Ghana a deserved lead at the break.
Ghana maintained their attacking momentum after the restart and doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute through Felix Afena-Gyan. The forward finished off a move set up by Mohammed Kudus, who provided the assist to put the Black Stars firmly in control and underline the value of his return to the national team. Somalia struggled to respond as Ghana managed the game well, with the two-goal cushion proving enough to seal victory. The result is a vital response following back-to-back defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, which had placed Ghana’s qualification hopes under serious pressure. Bjorkegren will now shift focus to Monday’s return fixture against Somalia at the same venue, where another win would further boost Ghana’s position in Group C as they chase a place at the 2027 AFCON in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
