Goals from Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan propelled Ghana to a crucial 2-0 victory over Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday afternoon, breathing new life into the Black Stars’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Entering Matchday 3 at the bottom of Group C with zero points following opening defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s side faced immense pressure to deliver in front of a lively Western Region crowd, which marked the national team’s first appearance at the Sekondi venue in 18 years.
Ghana dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, dominating possession and consistently stretching the Somali backline. Their early aggression paid off in the 14th minute when defender Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot. However, captain Jordan Ayew failed to capitalize from 12 yards out, seeing his penalty saved by Somalia goalkeeper Hussein Ibrahim Ahmed. Despite the setback, the Black Stars maintained their relentless pressure, and just as the first half appeared headed for a goalless stalemate, they found their breakthrough in the 45th minute. Returning playmaker Mohammed Kudus whipped in a dangerous corner that defender Mohammed Salisu nodded back across the goalmouth, allowing Jonas Adjetey to plant a firm header into the net for a 1-0 halftime lead.
The hosts picked up right where they left off after the interval, nearly doubling their advantage in the 50th minute when another Salisu header from a set piece was blocked on the line. The decisive second goal eventually arrived in the 62nd minute, with Mohammed Kudus once again proving to be the creative spark. Driving forward through midfield, Kudus threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Felix Afena-Gyan, who took one touch to control before curling a composed finish past the advancing Somali goalkeeper to make it 2-0. With a comfortable two-goal cushion, Björkegren turned to his bench to see out the match, introducing Prince Adu Kwabena, Ibrahim Sulemana, and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who made his first appearance for the national team in nearly four years and came close to marking his return with a late long-range strike.
The triumph snaps an eight-match winless streak in AFCON qualifiers for Ghana and lifts them to three points, moving the four-time African champions into third place in Group C behind Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, while Somalia remains rooted to the bottom of the table without a point. The two nations will not have to wait long for a rematch, as Somalia’s lack of a CAF-approved home venue means the return fixture for Matchday 4 will also be contested at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Monday, November 16, at 3:00 PM GMT.
