Black Stars defeat Somalia 2-0 to revive AFCON 2027 qualifying hopes

Ghana's Black Stars secured their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, defeating Somalia 2-0 at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi. The win marks a successful debut for interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and ends a disappointing five-match winless streak for the national team. After suffering earlier defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in Group C, this result provides a much-needed boost to Ghana’s aspirations for the tournament, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The game began with an early opportunity for the hosts when they were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute, but captain Jordan Ayew failed to convert from the spot. Despite dominating possession, Ghana struggled to break the deadlock in the sweltering heat until the closing moments of the first half. Defender Jonas Adjetey scored his first goal for the senior national team, finding the net in stoppage time to give the Black Stars the lead. The second half saw a more fluid performance, with Felix Afena-Gyan doubling the advantage in the 62nd minute following an assist from Mohammed Kudus.

Following the match, Jonas Adjetey expressed his delight at both his debut goal and the team's defensive improvement, highlighting the significance of keeping a clean sheet after recent struggles. Interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren acknowledged that while the result was positive, there remains significant room for improvement in the team's intensity and clinical finishing. Björkegren noted that the first half lacked the necessary speed of play, partly due to the weather conditions, but he praised the team's better execution and increased pressure after the break.

The victory lifts Ghana to third place in Group C, placing them ahead of Somalia but still trailing Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia. With three points now secured, the Black Stars are scheduled to face Somalia again on Monday at the same venue. The team aims to build on this momentum and secure back-to-back wins to further solidify their position in the group and keep their qualification hopes alive.