Antoine Semenyo climbed off the bench to score a late winner as the Black Stars of Ghana made a winning return to action on match day three of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Kumasi.
Semenyo’s replaced Atletico Bilbao’s Inaki Williams in the 69th minute and scored the winner against Angola in the 96th minute to give Chris Hughton’s men a 1-0 win over Angola in Kumasi.
It was Hughton’s first game as the head coach of the Black Stars since his appointment to replace Otto Addo with whom he was at the World Cup.
The former defender opted to go without the skipper Andre Ayew. Lawrence Ati Zigi in goal – Daniel Amartey, Alexander Dziku, Gideon Mensah, and Dennis Odoi in defence.
Thomas Partey, Kudus Mohammed, and Edmund Addo teamed up in midfield, while Inaki Williams led the attack alongside Kamaldeen Suleimana and Jordan Ayew.
With both sides lacking quality in the first half though Ati had to make a brilliant save midway in the first-half to prevent Angola from taking the lead at the Baba Yara stadium.
Ghana came out of the blocks faster after the break, but it took them so long to win the game.
Close chances from Kamaldeen Sulemana nearly pipped the opener for Ghana before the 80th minute, but the goalkeeper for the visitors Adilson da Cruz, was solid to keep his team in the game.
However, Ghana did little spectacular to eventually win the game, but they unquestionably piled on the pressure in the second segment.
Bournemouth forward Semenyo replaced was brought on during the 69th minute as a replacement for Inaki Williams.
He scored a late winner after Cruz spilled the ball from a free-kick from an acute angle.
Semenyo fired home his second international goal from a close range shot in a crowded penalty area.
The win leaves Ghana on top of the table in Group E with 7 points, three points ahead of Angola and the Central Africa Republic. Madagascar remains last with 1 point after three games.
Angola will host Ghana on Tuesday in Luanda for the reverse and match day four fixture.
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