Ghana have crashed out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament after a shocking 3-2 defeat to debutants Comoros on Tuesday evening.
Comoros stunned Ghana with the first goal inside four minutes and then captain Andre Ayew was sent off before halftime.
Black Stars staged an impressive fightback in the second half but with 10 men, Comoros always had the advantage and made it count.
It is the first time Ghana have failed to progress from the group stage since 2006.
After picking just one point from two games, Ghana needed to beat Comoros, who are tasting continental showpiece for the first time.
Read also: AFCON 2022: Ghana v Comoros – To avoid an early exit
But on four minutes Black Stars were caught on the counter, Youssouf M’Changama turning Daniel Amartey and found Ben, who finished superbly.
But it was on 21 minutes that everything really changed. Salim Ben Boina spilled Kamaldeen Sulemana’s shot, Ayew slid in to win the loose ball, Ben Boina redeemed himself to save well, and the ref somehow appraised a red card from Var, when the pair collided thereafter.
Ben Boina was hurt, it is true, and could not continue, but that can happen in a contact sport. Ayew was not reckless, and was well within his rights to try and score.
On 64 minutes, and even though Ghana dominated the second half, the match looked over when Mogni finished smartly, but Ghana kept at it and set-piece goals, on 64 and 75 minutes, gave them a sniff. Comoros, though, held firm, then Mogni made things safe on the counter to seal an earth-shattering win.
And what’s more, if Guinea-Bissau don’t beat Nigeria and Sudan don’t beat Egypt, then Algeria don’t beat Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone lose to Guinea, they’ll be joining Morocco and Gabon in their first-ever knockout stages, those teams having shared a 2-2 draw.
