Ghana has booked her place into the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after coming from a goal down to beat the Central African Republic (C.A.R) at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday.
In a fiercely contested match star man Mohammed Kudus and substitute Ernest Nuamah scored to secure another AFCON ticket for the Black Stars.
Louis Mfouta’s early goal was cancelled out by a free-kick from Kudus, before Nuamah scored late on to seal victory for the hosts in Kumasi.
With this crucial win, Ghana has successfully secured its place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, set to be hosted in neighboring Cote D’Ivoire next year.
The visiting CAR team opened the scoring in the first half, taking advantage of a high defensive line employed by Ghana.
In the 25th minute, Luis Mafouta found himself in a clean one-on-one opportunity, calmly bypassing Ghana’s goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati Zigi, and slotting the ball into an empty net to stun the home crowd.
Ghana’s defense vehemently protested for an offside flag that never materialized, leaving CAR in the lead.
CAR’s goal acted as a wake-up call for Ghana, who intensified their efforts in search of an equalizer.
Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Kudus Mohammed delivered a well-placed free kick that was initially saved by the CAR goalkeeper but rebounded into the net, sending the passionate Kumasi crowd into wild celebrations.
The first half concluded with both teams level, but the second half saw key substitutions.
Antoine Semenyo came on for the ineffective Inaki Williams, injecting fresh energy and enthusiasm into Ghana’s attack.
Youngster Ernest Nuamah also entered the fray, replacing the lively Osman Bukari.
Semenyo’s impact was immediate, as he outwitted the CAR defense and set up a perfect opportunity for the Olympic Lyon player to tap the ball into an empty net, securing his first senior goal for Ghana.
The Bournemouth forward should have scored for his efforts but his fierce shot from the edge of the box struck the foot of the post before it was cleared to safety,
With this win, Ghana topped Group E with 12 points, while Angola secured the second spot with 9 points following their goalless draw against Madagascar.
Both teams have now booked their spots in the upcoming AFCON tournament, promising an exciting competition ahead.
