The Ghana vs Somalia clash in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers saw the Black Stars take control with a 1-0 lead at halftime after Jonas Adjetey scored in stoppage time at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Ghana entered the Group C Matchday 3 fixture under considerable pressure after losing their opening two qualifying matches. With qualification hopes already at risk, the Black Stars needed a strong performance against Somalia to revive their campaign.

Jonas Adjetey provided the breakthrough in the 45th minute plus two, heading home following a corner kick from Mohammed Kudus and a knockdown by Mohammed Salisu.

Somalia defended for much of the first half but struggled to create attacking opportunities against a Ghana side that dominated possession and territory.

Ghana vs Somalia Score and Match Update

2027 AFCON QUALIFIERS · GROUP C · MATCHDAY 3

Jonas Adjetey Gives Ghana the Breakthrough

Ghana started the match on the front foot, pushing forward and attempting to break down Somalia’s defensive structure.

Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew were among the key attacking players involved as the Black Stars looked to establish control.

Ghana had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring in the 12th minute when Alidu Seidu won a penalty after being pulled by a Somalia defender.

However, Jordan Ayew failed to convert from the spot. Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Ahmed made an important save to keep the score level.

The missed penalty gave Somalia some encouragement, but Ghana continued to dominate possession and create opportunities.

Jordan Ayew came close again in the 16th minute, sending a low effort narrowly wide of the post. Mohammed Kudus also tested the opposition defence, although his attempt caused little trouble for the goalkeeper.

The breakthrough finally arrived in first-half stoppage time.

Following a corner from Mohammed Kudus, Mohammed Salisu provided the knockdown, allowing Jonas Adjetey to rise and connect with the ball to put Ghana ahead.

The goal gave the home supporters a major moment to celebrate before the halftime whistle.

Ghana vs Somalia Match Stats

The first-half statistics highlighted Ghana’s dominance in the contest. The Black Stars controlled possession, created more shooting opportunities and spent considerably more time in attacking areas.

Ghana’s 78.3% possession demonstrated its control of the match. Somalia, meanwhile, concentrated on defensive organisation and attempted to limit the space available to Ghana’s attackers.

One of the most notable statistics was Somalia’s failure to register a shot during the first half, while Ghana managed eight attempts, including four on target.

Ghana Starting Lineup vs Somalia

Interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren selected an experienced starting lineup featuring several familiar Black Stars players.

Ghana starting XI:

• Benjamin Asare (Goalkeeper)

• Alidu Seidu

• Jonas Adjetey

• Mohammed Salisu

• Gideon Mensah

• Caleb Yirenkyi

• Thomas Partey

• Fatawu Issahaku

• Mohammed Kudus

• Felix Afena-Gyan

• Jordan Ayew

The return of Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Salisu provided an important boost after their recent injury-related absences.

However, Ghana were without Antoine Semenyo, who was sidelined with a knee injury, and Jan Gyamerah, who had a muscle injury.

Somalia Starting Lineup vs Ghana

Somalia head coach Yusuf Ali Nur also named his starting team for the important Group C encounter.

Somalia starting XI:

• Ibrahim Ahmed (Goalkeeper)

• Abel Gigle

• Faisal Abubakar

• Ali Omar

• Mohamed Hassan

• Abdisamad Abdullah

• Abdi Sharif

• Mubashir Nour

• Sakarya Hassan

• Bilal Njie

• Musse Jailani

Somalia entered the contest looking to secure a positive result after suffering defeats against Gambia and Ivory Coast in their opening two qualifying matches.

Goalkeeper Ibrahim Ahmed played an important role in keeping the score down, particularly after saving Jordan Ayew’s penalty.

Why Ghana Needed a Win Against Somalia

The Ghana – Somalia encounter was particularly important because both national teams had lost their first two matches in Group C.

Ghana began its qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Ivory Coast before suffering a disappointing 4-2 loss to Gambia.

The Black Stars had taken a 2-0 lead against Gambia through Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan but ultimately failed to protect their advantage.

Those results left Ghana at the bottom of Group C with zero points, two goals scored and six conceded before the Somalia fixture.

Somalia also started the qualification campaign with consecutive defeats. The Ocean Stars lost 2-1 against Gambia before suffering a 2-0 defeat against Ivory Coast.

Both teams therefore needed points to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 AFCON alive.

Ghana vs Somalia Head-to-Head Record

Ghana entered this fixture with a strong historical record against Somalia.

According to the supplied match preview, the two national teams had previously met twice, with Ghana winning both encounters.

Somalia had not scored against Ghana in those previous meetings.

The Black Stars were therefore looking to maintain their unbeaten historical record against the Ocean Stars.

What Is at Stake in the 2027 AFCON Qualifiers?

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Qualification is particularly important for Ghana after missing the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.

The top two teams from each qualifying group will secure places at the tournament.

Before the Ghana vs Somalia match, Ivory Coast and Gambia occupied the leading positions in Group C with six points each.

Ghana and Somalia, meanwhile, were desperate to collect their first points of the campaign.

For the Black Stars, the objective was clear: secure victories in their double-header against Somalia and give themselves a chance to return to the top of the group.

Final Thoughts

Ghana showed attacking intent and controlled the opening half against Somalia, with Jonas Adjetey delivering the decisive moment just before halftime.

Jordan Ayew’s missed penalty initially prevented the Black Stars from taking an early advantage, but Adjetey’s header eventually rewarded their sustained pressure.

Somalia goalkeeper Ibrahim Ahmed also deserves credit for keeping his team competitive with several important interventions.

The first-half performance gave Ghana a promising platform, but the Black Stars still needed to maintain their intensity and defensive concentration to secure a crucial result in their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.