The Black Stars of Ghana have secured a spot in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic in their final Afcon qualifier, held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

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.