The Baba Yara Stadium was electrified with anticipation, but it fell eerily silent as the final whistle signalled a shocking 1-0 defeat for Ghana at the hands of Angola.
This stunning upset sent shockwaves across the nation, as Angola secured a crucial win in their quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The match was a nail-biting contest, with both teams fiercely competing for a spot in the tournament.
Although Ghana dominated the first half with Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo posing threats to the Angolan defense, Neblu Adilson Cipriano’s exceptional goalkeeping denied them multiple scoring opportunities.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Ghana creating chances but failing to capitalize.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Angola seized victory in the dying moments of the game, as Felicio Joao exploited a defensive mistake to score past Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
This defeat was a tough pill to swallow for the Black Stars, who were expected to lead their group.
The opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will go down in history as a landmark moment, marking Ghana’s first defeat at the national stadium in an astonishing 24 years.
This shocking upset will be etched in the memories of football fans for generations to come, serving as a reminder of Angola’s impressive performance and Ghana’s unexpected downfall.
Ghana’s next challenge is against Niger at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco, while Angola hosts Sudan in Luanda on Monday.