Ghana secured their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Somalia at the Essipong Stadium, boosting their hopes of reaching the tournament.

Published 12 Nov 2026, 17:03 GMTUpdated 12 Nov 2026, 17:34 GMT

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Ghana secured their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Somalia at the Essipong Stadium, boosting their hopes of reaching the tournament.

The victory was particularly significant for the Black Stars, who returned to the Western Region venue for the first time in 18 years and ended a run of eight consecutive AFCON qualifying matches without a win.

Goals from Jonas Adjatey and Afena-Gyan ensured Ghana claimed all three points after a dominant performance, although captain Jordan Ayew missed an early penalty that could have given the hosts the lead.

Ghana began the encounter with considerable attacking intent, putting Somalia under pressure as they looked to establish control of the game.

Their positive start resulted in a penalty after Alidu Seidu was brought down by an opposition player inside the penalty area.

Ayew, who had missed Ghana's previous international window, took responsibility for the spot-kick but was unable to convert, with the Somalia goalkeeper denying the captain's attempt.

The miss marked a significant moment for the forward, as it was the first penalty he had failed to score for Ghana. Ayew had successfully converted all nine of his previous attempts since 2014.

Despite the setback, the Black Stars continued to dictate the tempo, creating opportunities as they searched for an opening goal.

Mohammed Kudus was among those who threatened the Somali defence, but the attacking midfielder was unable to capitalise on his opportunity.

Ghana's persistence eventually paid off shortly before the interval when Adjatey broke the deadlock.

The defender rose highest to head the ball into the net after Mohammed Salisu provided the flick-on from a corner, giving the hosts a deserved advantage heading into the half-time break.

The goal also maintained Ghana's record of scoring in the first half in each of their three meetings with Somalia.

The Black Stars returned for the second half with the same attacking determination, showing little intention of protecting their narrow advantage.

Their efforts to extend the lead were rewarded in the 60th minute when Afena-Gyan produced an impressive finish to put further distance between the two sides.

The forward curled the ball beyond the reach of the Somalia goalkeeper, who had delivered an impressive performance throughout the contest, to make it 2-0.

The second goal gave Ghana greater control of the match and put them in a commanding position as they moved closer to securing their first three points of the qualifying campaign.

One of the most notable moments of the encounter came later in the second half when Daniel Kofi Kyereh was introduced as a substitute.

Kyereh's appearance was particularly significant after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury. The midfielder was making his first appearance for the four-time African champions in four years.

His previous outing for Ghana had come against Uruguay at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making his return an important moment for both the player and the national team.

The result represents an important step forward for Ghana, who had struggled to find victories in their previous eight AFCON qualifying matches.

The three points also give the Black Stars renewed hope of securing qualification for the 2027 tournament, with the team now occupying third position in their group on three points.

Ghana will be looking to build on the victory when they conclude the November international window, with another win potentially strengthening their position in the race for qualification.

The Black Stars will also be determined to avoid a repeat of their disappointing experience in the previous AFCON qualification campaign.

Ghana failed to qualify for the last edition of the tournament, ending a 20-year run of consecutive appearances at the continental competition.

With their first victory now secured, the four-time African champions will hope the result marks the beginning of a more successful qualifying campaign and puts them back on course for a place at the 2027 AFCON.

2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana defeat Somalia to record first win of campaign

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