Ghana AFCON 2021 Journey Comes To An End After Stunning Defeat To Comoros Island.

Ghana journey at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations comes to an end after shockingly losing 3-2 to debutant Comoros who are ranked 132nd in the world on Tuesday night.

The Black Stars needed to win the game to stand any chance of progression from Group C, after losing their opening game 1-0 to Morocco, and a 1-1 draw with Andre Ayew scoring the only goal for Ghana against Gabon, leaving them winless in the competition.

The match got off to a thrilling start at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua as El Fardou Ben Mohamed made history for Comoros after just four minutes, scoring his nations first ever AFCON goal. 

Ghana looked to level up the scoreline but the problem worsened when captain Andre Ayew was shown a straight red card after 25 minutes by referee Boubou Traore.

The 32-year-old dived in after a loose ball on Comoros keeper Salim Ben Boina, and following a VAR review, it was shown that he roughly injured the keeper and was sent off afterwards. 

Ahmed Mogni's sensational solo effort doubled the lead for Comoros 16 minutes into the second half.

Despite playing with 10 men, Ghana went on to produce some of their best football of the tournament, scoring twice in eight minutes to level the game.

First, Richmond Boakye headed home from a cornerin the 64th minute to give Ghana hope. Then, Thomas Partey flicked on towards Alexander Djiku inside the box who levelled the scoreline with 13 minutes to play.

Ghana hopes of winning the game and stand a chance for qualification was later dashed when Ahmed Mogni scored his second goal five minutes from time, with a close range finish past goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott on the night.

The goal handed a famous victory to Comoros representing a tiny island nation off the south east coast of Africa, their first AFCON win, as they finished third in the group, and must wait until Thursday to know if they are among the best four third-placed teams to advance to the last-16.

The shock defeat for four-time champions Ghana sees them finish with just a single point having failed to win at least one group stage game for the first time in history since their maiden appearance in Sudan 1957.

Coach Milovan Rajevac’s men therefore finished bottom of Group C and exit AFCON at the group stage for the first time in 16 years (Egypt 2006).

Meanwhile, Morocco topped Group C with seven points, followed by Gabon on five, after their match finished 2-2 in Yaoundé, with both teams advancing to the round-of-16 which begins on Sunday.

In Yaounde, Gabon led twice through Jim Allevinah and a Nayef Aguerd own-goal while Sofiane Boufal and Achraf Hakimi netted and equalised for Morocco.

Gabon had played the game without their three stars, Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who had travelled back to Arsenal due to some heart issues, Mario Lemina and Denis Bouanga from French clubs Nice and Saint-Etienne due to Covid-19.

Andre Ayew expressed his disappointment at Ghana's early exit and tendered an apology to the Ghana fans following their poor performance in Cameroon 2021.  

“I watched it and it’s not a red card,” Ayew told the media in the mixed zone.

“We didn’t make Ghanaians proud, we take responsibility for that. We didn’t have a good Afcon.

“If you see the goal we conceded against Morocco and versus Gabon, you will see that we were unlucky.”

“I think we need to learn from this, we need to go back to the drawing board as the players move ahead,” the Al Sadd forward continued.

“We have to take criticism, apologise to the fans for not qualifying for the next round. We are disappointed because this is not Ghana.

“I think if you guys know me, I leave to fight another day. We are going to work hard and we are going to be back.”

Ghana's record at #AFCON since 2000 🇬🇭:

2000- Quarter Finals 

2002- Quarter Finals

2004- Did not qualify 

2006- Group Stage 

2008- Bronze 

2010- Silver 

2012- Fourth 

2013- Fourth 

2015- Silver   

2017- Fourth 

2019- Round-of-16 

2021- Group Stage