Ghana commenced their 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a vital home win over Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, November 17.
Inaki Williams snatched a late win for Chris Hughton’s side with a powerful header in the 95th minute to give Ghana all three points as the game ended 1-0.
Hughton’s men had to wait for the 25th-minute mark to register their first shot on target with Jordan Ayew forcing a save out of the goalkeeper.
However, it was the away team who looked better in all aspects of the first half except that they failed to break the duck.
The return from recess saw the introduction of Majeed Ashimeru and Denis Odoi who brought a spark into the team’s decision-making in the final third.
Kudus tried an effort from 20 yards out which was parried away by the goalkeeper. Inaki Williams thought he had scored the opening goal and his first for Ghana but his strike was ruled out for offside.
Ernest Nuamah replaced Antoine Semenyo after 72 minutes and was heavily involved in everything the Stars did from there on.
Ashimeru drove into the opposition’s box with purpose and unleashed a left-foot strike but was once again denied by the Madagascar goalkeeper. It was a similar case when Nuamah played Kudus on goal with a lofted pass.
The Barea came close to finally getting a goal in the 81st minute of the game but the forward’s header came off the upright while the rebound went just wide of the post.
Ghana continued to push for the winner in the dying embers of the game and was rightly rewarded after Gideon Mensah found Inaki with a tailor-measured cross from the left flank.
The Athletic Bilbao forward made no mistake from close range, powering his header past the goalkeeper to break the duck.
The goal was also his first for the country in his 12th appearance.
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