Black Stars lose 4-2 to The Gambia after leading by two goals in AFCON qualifier

Pinned summary · as of 15:51

Ghana lost 4-2 to The Gambia in Accra on Tuesday, a Group C game in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that the hosts had led by two goals. The result leaves the Black Stars pointless after two matches. Gideon Mensah, who wore the armband, accepted blame afterwards.

What we know

• The Gambia beat Ghana 4-2 in the capital, hitting four goals after Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan had put the hosts 2-0 up in a 2027 qualifying game for the continental finals.
• It was Ghana's second straight defeat in Group C. The first came against Côte d'Ivoire, and the team has yet to pick up a point.
• Mensah, the captain on the night, had a hand in two Gambian goals. NorvanReports and MyNewsGH both said a late challenge by him inside the box led to a penalty, and that a weak back pass let Ebrima Colley score.
• After the match Mensah said the team fell short of the standard required and that luck did not go Ghana's way.
• Mensah said that, as captain, he carries the blame for the outcome, and that the players have to take the criticism that follows.
• He linked part of the problem to the number of newcomers in the group, saying it takes time for them to grasp the pressure and expectations of turning out for Ghana.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  The Vaultz News reported that Ernest Nuamah scored Ghana's first goal from the penalty spot, but no other report describes how that goal came.
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  The Vaultz News said Mensah captained the side because Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Alexander Djiku were unavailable. SportsWorldGhana quoted Mensah as saying several senior players missed the window through injury, not for lack of commitment. Neither claim has been confirmed by other reports or by the team.
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  SportsWorldGhana reported Mensah as saying Ghana can still turn the campaign around and that he is proud of his teammates for stepping forward. These are his views, and the team's prospects in the group have not been assessed in other reports.

Why it matters for Ghana

Fans in Accra, Kumasi and across the country had hoped the qualifiers would restore some pride after Ghana missed the 2026 tournament, as The Vaultz News noted. With no points from two games, the Black Stars start the rest of Group C with little room for error. Mensah's remarks also point to a wider question about how quickly a young squad can adjust to the demands of the national team.