Two goals in each half of the game by Jonas Adjei Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan gave the Black Stars a 2-0 win over Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Thursday.
It was the first win for Ghana in the qualifiers, having lost the first two games to Ivory Coast, by 2-0, and The Gambia, by 4-2
The first match at the Sekondi Sports Stadium in many years for the team, the Black Stars enjoyed massive support from the home spectators.
The Black Stars were all guns ablazing from the referee’s whistle until the 13th minute when Jordan Ayew missed from the spot.
It was a penalty award after Alidu Seidu was brought down in the goal area.
The save by Somali goalie Ibrahim Hussein gave his side the needed confidence as the tables started to turn with the Ocean Stars finding their rhythm.
That could not last, however, as visitors succumbed to a corner kick, which was headed in Adjetey for his first goal for the national team.
From the break, the Stars fought hard to extend the lead with interim coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren throwing in more attackers.
This boosted the midfield play, resulting in the second goal by Afena-Gyan albeit through a howler by Hussein.
It was the Turkey-based player’s second consecutive goal for the senior national team.
With 3 points in the bag, Ghana move up above Somalia ahead of the return leg, also scheduled to take place at the Sekondi Sports Stadium on Monday.