Ghana Find Relief Against Somalia, but the Road to AFCON 2027 Remains Unforgiving

For Ghana, the match against Somalia was about more than collecting three points. After two disappointing defeats had left their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in danger of slipping away, the Black Stars needed a response. They got one, winning 2–0 at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12.

It was not a perfect performance, and there were moments when the pressure was easy to see. But after a difficult start to the campaign, Ghana finally had something to celebrate.

The victory ended a three-year wait for an AFCON qualifying win and gave interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren a positive start in competitive football with the senior national team.

Ghana had entered the match with nothing to show from their opening two Group C fixtures. They lost 2–0 away to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a painful 4–2 defeat at home to The Gambia. Those results left the four-time African champions under pressure, with questions growing about their direction and their chances of reaching the 2027 tournament.

Against Somalia, however, there was a chance to stop that poor run before it became even harder to recover from.

A missed penalty, then the breakthrough

Ghana started with the intention of taking control, and an early opportunity appeared when Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the penalty area. Captain Jordan Ayew stepped forward to take the spot-kick, but Somalia's goalkeeper saved his effort.

For a moment, it looked as though Ghana might be heading into another frustrating afternoon. Somalia stayed organised and made life difficult for the hosts, who struggled to turn their possession into clear chances.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in first-half stoppage time. Defender Jonas Adjetey rose to meet a delivery from Mohammed Salisu and sent the ball into the net, giving Ghana a much-needed lead just before the interval.

The goal changed the mood around the stadium. Ghana had been pushing for an answer, and Adjetey's header finally gave them something to build on.

The Black Stars added a second in the 62nd minute. Mohammed Kudus, returning to the national team for his first international appearance of 2026, helped create the opportunity before Felix Afena-Gyan finished to make it 2–0.

Kudus' return was one of the encouraging parts of the evening. His contribution gave Ghana another attacking option, while the team looked more comfortable as the second half progressed.

Ghana needed this result

There is a difference between winning a match and solving the problems that led to a poor run of results. Ghana have achieved the first, but the second will take more work.

The victory moved them to three points from three matches in Group C. They remained behind Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, who had both made stronger starts to the qualifying campaign.

That means Ghana cannot afford to treat Thursday's result as the end of the job. The win has brought some breathing room, but their position in the group still leaves little room for another setback.

For Björkegren, the immediate task is to build on the second-half performance and help the players recover their confidence. After the match, the interim coach acknowledged that Ghana had not maintained the right tempo throughout the first half, but was pleased with how the team responded after the break.

The improvement matters. Ghana have talented players, but talent alone does not guarantee qualification. They need consistency, better use of their chances and the ability to handle difficult moments without allowing frustration to take over.

Somalia still have a difficult climb ahead

For Somalia, the defeat was another disappointing result in a campaign that has offered very little room for celebration.

The Ocean Stars remain at the bottom of Group C without a point after three matches. They defended with discipline for long periods in Sekondi and managed to survive Ghana's early pressure, including the missed penalty. However, they eventually struggled to contain the hosts after Adjetey's opening goal.

There were positives in the way Somalia stayed in the contest during the first half, but they will need more going forward if they hope to trouble the stronger teams in the group.

Their next meeting with Ghana offers an immediate opportunity to respond. It will also test whether they can turn the defensive organisation shown in the first match into a performance that produces a result.

The next meeting could tell us more

Ghana and Somalia are scheduled to meet again on Monday, November 16, in the return fixture. For Ghana, another victory would take them to six points and give their qualification campaign some much-needed momentum.

But the Black Stars will know that one good result does not erase the damage caused by their opening defeats. They have given themselves a chance, not a guarantee.

The 2027 AFCON tournament will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, making qualification particularly important for teams hoping to be part of the competition.

Ghana have taken their first step towards repairing a campaign that had started badly. The relief of Thursday's win will be welcome, but the real test is whether they can carry that performance into the next match.

For now, the Black Stars have stopped the slide. They still have work to do.