2 years ago
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Comoros won a Nations Cup game for the first time as they shocked GhanaGhana suffered a humiliating group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations after the four-time champions were beaten by debutants Comoros.
El Fardou Ben Nabouhane put the islanders ahead early on, and Ghana then went down to 10 men when Andre Ayew was shown a straight red card.
Ahmed Mogni doubled the lead before the Black Stars fought back to make it 2-2.
However, Mogni tapped in his second in the 85th minute to inflict Ghana's first group-stage exit since 2006.
The result in Group C will go down as one of the biggest shocks in Nations Cup history as Comoros scored at the finals for the first time and then went on to record their maiden victory.
Incredibly, the side ranked 132nd in the world now have a chance to reach the knockout stages as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.
Ghana had put in disjoined displays in their first two games, a 1-0 defeat by Morocco and a niggly 1-1 draw with Gabon, and finish bottom of the group table despite putting in a spirited display following Ayew's 25th-minute sending off.
Their fans in the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua looked stunned at the full-time whistle, being left to contemplate a rollercoaster second half which ended their bid for a first Nations Cup title since 1982.
Their exit in Cameroon will increase the pressure on coach Milovan Rajevac, who returned for a second spell in charge in September.
The Serb led the Black Stars to the Nations Cup final in 2010 and the World Cup quarter-finals the same year, and guided the West Africans through to Africa's play-offs for this year's World Cup.
However, Ghana only won their qualifying group ahead of South Africa on goals scored and are unseeded for the play-off draw - where they will face one of Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria for a place in Qatar.
Comoros, meanwhile, await the final round of matches in the remaining three groups to see if their stunning victory can extend their stay at the tournament.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Ghana
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Wollacott
- 2YiadomBooked at 78minsSubstituted forOwusuat 81'minutes
- 18Amartey
- 23Djiku
- 17BabaSubstituted forAddoat 45'minutes
- 22SulemanaSubstituted forBoakyeat 60'minutes
- 5Partey
- 8Kyereh
- 7IssahakuSubstituted forPaintsilat 60'minutes
- 10A AyewBooked at 25mins
- 9J Ayew
Substitutes
- 1Nurudeen
- 3Baffour
- 4Mensah
- 6Addo
- 13Boakye
- 14Mensah
- 15Paintsil
- 19Owusu
- 24Attah
- 26Mumin
- 27Quaye
Comoros
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Ben BoinaSubstituted forAhamadaat 26'minutes
- 15YoussoufSubstituted forAbdullahat 90'minutes
- 4Zahary
- 12M'Dahoma
- 22Bakari
- 7SelemaniBooked at 14mins
- 10M'Changama
- 8BachirouSubstituted forAbdouat 90'minutes
- 20MogniSubstituted forYoussoufat 90'minutes
- 17YoussoufSubstituted forMattoirat 60'minutes
- 21Ben Nabouhane
Substitutes
- 2Abdallah
- 3Alhadhur
- 5Ali Mohamed
- 6Abdou
- 9M'Changama
- 11Aboubakari
- 13Abdullah
- 14M'Madi
- 19Youssouf
- 23Ahamada
- 24Mattoir
- 26Mohamed
Live Text
Match ends, Ghana 2, Comoros 3.
Second Half ends, Ghana 2, Comoros 3.
Attempt missed. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (Ghana) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is too high from a direct free kick.
Joseph Paintsil (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Mohamed Youssouf (Comoros).
Alexander Djiku (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Comoros).
Thomas Partey (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rafidine Abdullah (Comoros).
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Younn Zahary (Comoros).
Substitution, Comoros. Nadjim Abdou replaces Fouad Bachirou.
Substitution, Comoros. Mohamed Youssouf replaces Ahmed Mogni.
Substitution, Comoros. Rafidine Abdullah replaces Bendjaloud Youssouf.
Attempt missed. Alexander Djiku (Ghana) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Goal! Ghana 2, Comoros 3. Ahmed Mogni (Comoros) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bendjaloud Youssouf.
Foul by Edmund Addo (Ghana).
El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (Comoros) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Comoros. Faïz Selemani tries a through ball, but El Fardou Ben Nabouhane is caught offside.
Offside, Comoros. Youssouf M'Changama tries a through ball, but Ahmed Mogni is caught offside.
English (US)