Antoine Semenyo’s stoppage time goal gave Ghana their 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign a major boost after beating Angola 1-0 in a Group E encounter on Thursday evening in Kumasi.
After the first half had produced no goal, the late goal in stoppage time of the game was all the Black Stars needed to keep their qualifying hopes alive and move them atop the group with 7 points.
Playing their first match since the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they placed third and failed to qualify from the group, the Stars ought to make amends and they did that in a hard-fought win against the Palancas Negras.
The Angolans had possession and dominated the initial stages of the second half with threats in front of Ghana’s goal area, but they failed to convert them into goals.
Coach Chris Hughton’s men took over possession from the 60th minute, with the introduction of Joseph Paintsil, Antoine Semenyo, Osman Bukari, Abdul Samed, and Joseph Aidoo, to unlock the compatible defence of the away side, but it was not enough.
In 90+6 minutes, the homers finally went up through an Antoine Semenyo rebound from a Mohammed Kudus freekick on the edge of the penalty area to set a fully packed Baba Yara Stadium into a frenzy mood.
The goal thus proved the match-winner to complete the job for Chris Hughton’s men who were on the verge of disappointing the home fans and Ghanaians at large.
Ghana now has seven points, three points ahead of second-placed Angola and CAR who are on the same four points, and Madagascar who has one point.
The team will travel to Luanda for the reverse fixture on Monday, March 27, 2023.
