Ghana’s Black Stars locked horns with the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, concluding the Group E finale in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
From the outset, it was evident that both teams were prepared to give it their all, with the Central African Republic squad launching a spirited offensive against the host nation, Ghana.
Despite the Black Stars enjoying home advantage, they struggled to establish dominance in the early stages of the match.
The visiting team, led by the charismatic head coach Raoul Savoy, commenced with remarkable enthusiasm, posing a considerable threat to Ghana’s defense.
Their determination paid off when striker Louis Mafouta found the back of the net in the 25th minute, granting Central African Republic a 1-0 lead.
Just moments before halftime, Mohammed Kudus, who recently made a high-profile move to West Ham United, executed a spectacular free-kick goal, rekindling hope for Ghana.
The second half brought its own share of drama, with substitute Ernest Nuamah emerging as the hero for Ghana. In the 82nd minute, Nuamah scored the decisive goal that secured a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Black Stars, ultimately sealing their qualification for the 2023 AFCON.
However, the post-match narrative took an unexpected turn as Central African Republic’s head coach, Raoul Savoy, voiced his frustrations and allegations of referee bias during the game. He remarked, “I’m very proud of my players. We played better than Ghana and didn’t deserve to lose. I think we should have finished this game with a 1-1 draw, you qualify but we didn’t lose. I think the second goal was offside clearly, we know the referee is your winner. We knew the referee would help you guys and he did it.”
Following the 2-1 win, Ghana has secured a place in the 2023 AFCON tournament, set to take place in Ivory Coast.