Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress, has extended his congratulations to the Black Stars following their qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Ivory Coast.

The congratulatory message comes in the wake of the team's impressive 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Mahama expressed his delight over the Black Stars' performance and their comeback from being a goal down.

He commended the team for securing a well-deserved spot in the 2024 AFCON and making Ghana proud once again.

He concluded his message by encouraging the Black Stars to aim for gold in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

 “Congratulations to our Black Stars. Great come back from a goal down and a spectacular victory against CAR to book a well-deserved spot in the 2024 AFCON. You’ve made Ghana proud again! Keep shining! Let's go for gold in the AFCON!” Mr Mahama posted on Facebook.

Match report

Ghana faced an early setback as the Central African Republic took the lead in the 25th minute. Louis Mafouta capitalised on a goalkeeping error by Ati Zigi, who had ventured out of his goal area but failed to reach a through pass. Mafouta calmly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into an empty net.

However, Ghana displayed resilience and determination, fighting their way back into the game. In the 42nd minute, Mohammed Kudus equalised for the Black Stars with a superbly executed free-kick from just outside the penalty box. Kudus' precise strike hit the crossbar and deflected into the net, marking his eighth goal in 25 appearances for the national team.

The match took an exciting turn when Antoine Semenyo, who had come on as a substitute for Inaki Williams, made a significant impact. In the dying minutes of the game, Semenyo stole the ball from a defender near the box and delivered a perfectly weighted pass to another substitute, Ernest Nuamah. Nuamah had a straightforward task, calmly tapping the ball into the net to secure a narrow 2-1 victory for Ghana.

With this crucial win, Ghana not only delighted football fans in Kumasi but also clinched the top spot in Group E, earning their ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire next year. 

The Black Stars demonstrated their determination and skill, promising an exciting campaign in the tournament ahead.