Black Stars beat Somalia and ease fan nerves

Ghana's Black Stars defeated Somalia 2-0 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Sekondi Sports Stadium, securing their first three points of the qualifying campaign.

The victory was an important moment for Ghana football news, as the Black Stars needed a positive result after suffering defeats in their opening qualifying matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. The result has given the team renewed confidence and eased some of the pressure surrounding their AFCON qualification hopes.

Ghana started the match positively and created opportunities to take an early lead. However, captain Jordan Ayew missed a penalty in the 13th minute after Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the penalty area. The missed opportunity increased the pressure on the home side, but the players continued pushing forward.

Their efforts finally paid off just before half-time when defender Jonas Adjetey scored with a header to put Ghana ahead. It was a special moment for the defender, as he registered his first international goal for the Black Stars.

Ghana returned for the second half with greater confidence and continued to dominate the game. In the 62nd minute, Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage after a well-created attacking move involving Mohammed Kudus. His goal made it 2-0 and gave Ghana greater control of the match.

Somalia attempted to respond but struggled to break through Ghana's defence. The Black Stars maintained their advantage until the final whistle, securing a deserved victory in front of their home supporters.

Speaking after the match, head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren expressed satisfaction with his team's second-half performance. He admitted that Ghana struggled with their tempo during part of the first half, partly because of the hot weather, but praised the players for improving after the break.

The coach explained that Ghana could have scored more goals, possibly three or four, but emphasised that securing all three points was the most important achievement.

Looking ahead to the return fixture against Somalia on Monday, November 16, Bjorkegren expressed confidence that his players could produce another strong performance. He also explained that having played against Somalia once, his team now had a better understanding of their opponents.

The 2-0 victory is a significant boost for Ghana's Black Stars AFCON qualifier campaign. It gives the team three important points and provides an opportunity to build momentum ahead of their next encounter.

Ghana will now turn their attention to Monday's return match against Somalia, where another victory could further improve their position in the qualification race.

For the Black Stars and their supporters, the victory is an encouraging step towards restoring confidence and securing a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.