Ghana suffer second successive AFCON qualifying defeat as The Gambia fight back

Ghana’s poor run in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying continued as they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia in Accra.

The defeat was Ghana’s second in as many matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and leaves Carlos Queiroz’s side bottom of their group without a point.

The Black Stars appeared to be in control after scoring twice in five minutes. Ernest Nuamah opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute before Felix Afena-Gyan doubled Ghana’s advantage six minutes later.

The Gambia responded immediately. Mohammed Badamosi converted a penalty in the 37th minute to reduce the deficit, and Omar Colley levelled the contest three minutes before half-time.

Ghana were unable to regain their early momentum after the interval. Ebrima Colley completed The Gambia’s turnaround by scoring in the 68th minute, before heading his second of the match in the first minute of stoppage time to confirm all three points for the visitors.

The result extends Ghana’s winless run in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying to eight matches. They lost three and drew three during the qualifying campaign for the 2025 tournament, a sequence which contributed to their failure to reach the finals, before suffering two further defeats in the current qualifiers.

The Black Stars’ last victory in qualifying came in September 2023, when they beat Central African Republic in the campaign for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in January 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire.

The latest loss leaves Ghana with no points from their opening two matches. They are level on points with Somalia but sit below them on goal difference, with Somalia preparing to face Cote d’Ivoire.

The Gambia lead the group with six points, three clear of Cote d’Ivoire. Their victory in Accra followed a match in which Ghana had established a commanding position but were ultimately punished by a decisive second-half response from the visitors.