Ghana revived their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign with a 2-0 victory over Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Thursday, November 12.
Goals from Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan secured all three points for the Black Stars, ending their five-match winless run and giving interim head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren a winning start in competitive action.
Ghana dominated much of the encounter but had to overcome an early setback after captain Jordan Ayew missed a penalty in the 14th minute.
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The Black Stars were awarded the spot-kick after defender Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the penalty area. However, Ayew failed to convert, allowing Somalia to escape an early deficit.
Despite the missed opportunity, Ghana continued to dictate proceedings, pushing forward in search of the opening goal against a disciplined Somali defence.
Their persistence finally paid off just before half-time when central defender Jonas Adjetey found the back of the net to give the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.
The goal eased the pressure on the Black Stars after Ayew’s penalty miss and gave them an important advantage heading into the second half.
Ghana continued their attacking approach after the restart and doubled their lead in the 62nd minute through Felix Afena-Gyan.
The forward finished off an attacking move created by Mohammed Kudus, whose assist helped Ghana establish a comfortable two-goal cushion.
Somalia struggled to mount a meaningful comeback as the Black Stars managed the remainder of the game to secure a crucial victory.
The result offers Ghana a timely boost following successive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, which had increased the pressure on their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign.
For Bjorkegren, the victory provides an encouraging start as he seeks to restore confidence and consistency within the national team.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to Monday’s return fixture against Somalia at the same Essipong Sports Stadium.
Another victory would strengthen Ghana’s position in Group C and improve their chances of securing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.