Black Stars Recover From Penalty Miss to Beat Somalia in Sekondi
Ghana secured their first points of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Thursday with a 2-0 home victory against Somalia in Sekondi-Takoradi. Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan provided the finishing touches to hand interim manager Kim Bjorkegren a winning start after opening defeats to Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The result keeps the four-time continental champions six points behind Group C leaders Ivory Coast, who sustained their perfect record with a 2-1 win over The Gambia in Bouake.
Adjetey Breakthrough Alters Match Geometry After Ayew Penalty Saved
The host side established early territorial control, forcing Somalia into a deep defensive low block, a compact structure with five defenders behind the ball designed to deny central space. Ghana received a direct opportunity to breach that line in the 14th minute when Alidu Seidu was brought down in the penalty area. However, Jordan Ayew‘s spot-kick was turned away by Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Hussein.
The structural breakthrough arrived in first-half stoppage time. Off a deep Mohammed Kudus corner, Mohammed Salisu directed a header back across the six-yard box, allowing central defender Jonas Adjetey to nod the ball into the net from close range. Ghana doubled their lead after the hour mark when Felix Afena-Gyan found space inside the penalty area, driving a low strike that squeezed beneath Hussein and crossed the goal line.
| Match Day Result | Group | Venue | Key Performance Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana 2-0 Somalia | Group C | Sekondi-Takoradi | Adjetey (45+’), Afena-Gyan (60+’) scored |
| Ivory Coast 2-1 The Gambia | Group C | Bouake | Yalcouye, Wahi scored for Ivory Coast |
| Senegal 4-1 Sudan | Group J | Dakar | Jackson, Mbaye scored for Senegal |
| DR Congo 3-1 Sierra Leone | Group E | Kinshasa | Wissa scored opening goal |
| Cameroon 2-0 Namibia | Group G | Douala | Cameroon move to seven points |
Senegal, DR Congo, and Cameroon Maintain Advantage Across Continental Groups
In Dakar, Senegal swept to a 4-1 victory over Sudan in Group J under Patrick Vieira. Nicolas Jackson and Ibrahim Mbaye scored to keep the Teranga Lions top of their group on seven points, three ahead of Mozambique. Senegal’s high-pressing system disrupted Sudan’s buildup play from the back, allowing the hosts to generate repeated high-turnover chances in the attacking third.
DR Congo extended their perfect record at the summit of Group E with a 3-1 victory over Sierra Leone in Kinshasa. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring to set up the win, leaving the Leopards on nine points, five clear of Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea following their 0-0 draw. Elsewhere in Group G, Cameroon advanced to seven points after recording a 2-0 home victory against Namibia in Douala.
Further Group C action saw Ivory Coast preserve their six-point lead over Ghana. Malick Yalcouye opened the scoring from seven yards out before Elye Wahi doubled the advantage, rendering Musa Barrow’s late reply for The Gambia insufficient to alter the final result. In Group F, Benin climbed to six points at the top of their standings following a 4-1 triumph over Central African Republic, while Guinea drew level on points with Group D leaders South Africa by defeating Eritrea 2-1 in Conakry.