AFCON 2025Q: Angola Hands Black Stars First Home Defeat In 24 Years At Baba Yara Stadium

The Black Stars of Ghana began their qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a defeat against Angola.

Milson came off the bench to score the only goal for the Palancreas Negras to break the hearts of Ghanaians at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday.

The 1-0 defeat is the first time Ghana has lost an opening game in the qualifiers for an AFCON in a long time.

Otto Addo’s side found it difficult to break down the defence of the Palancras Negras in the first half with the only shot on target coming in the 33rd minute.

Mohammed Kudus was on the end of the effort after a round from an Antoine Semenyo attack fell to him, pushing the Angolan keeper into the game’s first save.

Both teams went into the break with no goals recorded in the fixture.

The Black Stars came back from recess on the stronger side with Kudus firing another effort but it was far from troubling the goalkeeper.

In the 56th minute of the game, Semenyo almost broke the deadlock for Ghana but his well-struck effort was parried away once again by the goalkeeper to deny the in-form Bournemouth forward.

Lawrence Ati-Zigi was called into action for the first time in the 65th minute when he tipped over the crossbar Mabululu’s shot.

The St. Gallen goalkeeper came up big again in the 78th minute to deny substitute Milson from opening the score.

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku’s first real involvement came in the 80th minute but his trademark curling effort was too close to the Angola keeper who made a simple save.

Substitute Joseph Paintsil thought he had given Ghana the lead in the 88th minute but his header went into the hands of Neblu.

Just when the game seemed to be heading for a draw, Milson scored the winner in the 95th minute.

The winger pounced on a failed clearance in the Black Stars box as he tapped into the net to break the deadlock.

The defeat sees Ghana’s 24 years unbeaten record in Kumasi come to an end.

Addo’s side will now turn their attention to the game against Niger on Monday.

 

 

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