By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Ghana suffered a stinging 4-2 defeat to Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday night, marking a second successive loss in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as the visitors staged a remarkable comeback.
The Black Stars now face severe pressure. Their qualification campaign hangs in the balance after back-to-back losses in Group C.
Early Promise Fades Fast
The match began with familiar struggles for the hosts. Ghana failed to create meaningful chances in the opening stages. The visitors registered the only shot on target after nineteen minutes.
The home side gradually found rhythm. Nuamah picked out Afena-Gyan, whose effort resulted in a corner kick. A subsequent challenge on defender Jerome Opoku drew a penalty whistle.
Nuamah stepped up in the twenty-seventh minute. He calmly sent his penalty into the bottom-right corner to give Ghana the lead. Five minutes later, Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage by scoring directly from a free-kick.
Gambia Mounts Resilient Comeback
The two-goal cushion vanished almost instantly. Gambia responded just two minutes after the second goal. Captain Gideon Mensah gave away a penalty. Mohammed Badamosi stepped up and reduced the deficit from the spot.
The momentum shifted firmly to the visitors. Gambia continued to grow into the game. They drew level four minutes before half-time.
Ghanaian defenders failed to clear a ball from a throw-in. Omar Colley pounced on the error and finished clinically to make it 2-2.
Defensive Fragility Costs the Match
The defensive struggles continued after the interval. The visitors completed their turnaround in the sixty-eighth minute. Ebrima Colley finished a loose ball after the Ghana defence once again failed to deal with the danger.
Mensah experienced a nightmare evening on the pitch. The captain, who had earlier conceded the penalty, was unable to clear the loose ball before Colley took advantage to put Gambia ahead. Ebrima Colley secured his brace and his team’s fourth goal during injury time to seal the historic triumph.
Looking Ahead to November
The final whistle confirmed a bitter reality for the hosts. The defeat leaves Ghana’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance after losing both of their opening two Group C matches.
The Black Stars must now regroup quickly. They will have another opportunity to revive their campaign when they face Somalia in November.
