Ghana kick-start Afcon 2027 bid despite Ayew penalty miss

Jordan Ayew, wearing a blue captain's armband and yellow Ghana shirt with a black star and a black number nine on the chest, is seen during a football match. A blue hoarding and a crowd can be seen out of focus behind him — Image caption, Jordan Ayew joined Championship side Sheffield United in September after spending two seasons with Leicester City

Rob Stevens

BBC Sport Africa

Ghana belatedly kick-started their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying campaign with a 2-0 home win over Somalia.

The Black Stars had lost their opening two Group C matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia, leading to the departure of coach Carlos Queiroz by mutual consent.

Ghana women's coach Kim Bjorkegren was placed in interim charge for this month's double-header against the Ocean Stars, with the West Africans in danger of missing a second successive edition of the Afcon finals.

The hosts were given a chance to take an early lead in Sekondi-Takoradi after Alidu Seidu was pulled down in the box, but Jordan Ayew's 14th-minute penalty was saved by Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Hussein.

Ghana did go ahead in first-half stoppage time when Mohammed Salisu headed Mohammed Kudus's deep corner back across goal and Jonas Adjetey nodded in from six yards out.

Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the Black Stars' advantage just after the hour mark when his shot from inside the box squirmed under Hussein and over the line.

The result puts the four-time continental champions three points behind Ivory Coast and The Gambia, who meet in Bouake at 19:00 GMT.

Cameroon, DR Congo and Senegal are also in action among seven other Afcon 2027 qualifiers on Thursday.