AFCON 2021: Debutants Comoros send Ghana crashing out

Ghana’s Black Stars were stunned by debutants Comoros in their final Group C game at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua, with the Indian Ocean country claiming a 3-2 win to condemn Ghana to a group stage elimination.

Ghana came into the game needing a win to stay in the tournament after picking up only one point from their opening two games, but met a resolute Comoros side that was looking to end its debut tournament on a high.

Comoros went in front after only four minutes as they caught the Ghanaian defence napping early in the game. A mistimed challenge from Daniel Amartey set Ibroihim Djoudja free down the right, and the forward set up his strike partner El Fardou Ben Nabouhane to open the scoring with a crisp strike.

Ghana looked to draw level and put the Comoros defence under pressure, but their overzealousness worked against them as captain Andre Ayew received a straight red card in the 25th minute after he collided with the Comoros goalkeeper in pursuit of a loose ball, leaving Milovan Rajevac’s men short of one player on the pitch.

Comoros found the net again just after the hour mark through midfielder Ahmed Mogni as Ghana stared elimination in the face. The midfielder showed brilliant feet to feint and jink his way past a number of half-hearted challenges before rifling into the bottom corner.

Ghana responded almost immediately through substitute striker Richmond Boakye in the 64th minute as the forward powered home a header to halve the deficit.

The Black Stars drew level in the 77th minute as Alexander Djiku scored his first international goal from close range after a flicked header from Thomas Partey following a corner-kick.

As Ghana pursued a winner, spaces began to appear in their backline and Comoros looked to exploit the spaces, forcing goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott to be on his toes.

Comoros finally got their goal through the impressive Mogni in the 85th minute as he finished smartly from close range following a low cross from Benjaloud Youssouf.

Comoros held on for a historic win over Ghana, who will now exit this year’s AFCON after finishing bottom of the group. The Black Stars last failed to make it out of the group stage in 2006.

Comoros will hope they can finish as one of the best third-place teams to qualify for the Round of 16 in their debut AFCON campaign.

A 2-2 draw between Gabon and Morocco in the group’s other game saw both sides finish as the top two in the group.