Good afternoon and welcome to the live text updates of the clash between Ghana and Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars are hosting their counterparts this evening in a Group E encounter of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Head-To-Head:
Ghana and Angola in most recent times have only met twice. The first was in 2009 when the national teams of the two countries played a friendly match.
The game ended in a goalless draw.
The following year, Ghana and Angola met in the quarter-finals of the 2010 AFCON.
The Black Stars knocked out their counter with a 1-0 win courtesy of a solitary strike from dangerous striker Asamoah Gyan.
Group E standings so far:
Pitted in the same Group, Ghana and Angola are fighting for the top Group E spot. After two games, the two countries are tied at the top with four points.
In Thursday’s game, the winner will open a three-point gap at the top of the standings.
It is what makes the game very important.
Match details:
The clash between Ghana and Angola is scheduled to kick off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Thursday, March 23.
The game will kick off at 16:00gmt.
We are an hour away from kick-off and fans are already at the stadium to support the Black Stars.
Black Stars confirmed starting eleven.
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ! 🚨
Presenting Black Stars' side to face Angola 🇦🇴 #BlackStars | #AFCON2023Q | #GHAANG | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/JBQsDdiDsf
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 23, 2023
👕 | DRESSING ROOM
🇬🇭 🇦🇴 #BlackStars | #BringBackTheLove | #AFCON2023Q pic.twitter.com/TMjUJAF56C
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 23, 2023
The two teams are on the pitch for a warm-up before the game.
All done now, we are set for kick-off in 15 minutes. A reminder that the winner of the Ghana v Angola game stays top of the Group E standings of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
First Half:
1' We are off at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. It is Angola kicking us off for this evening's AFCON qualifier.
2' A very slow start to the contest. Angola playing with more aggression though. Eventually, the Black Stars win a corner kick.
3' Corner kick is taken but the defense of Angola deals with it.
5' CHANCE !!! Ghana with the first chance of the game. Dennis Odoi finds Mohammed Kudus in the Angola box but his effort is off-target.
8' Thomas Partey with a bursting run into the Angola half. He threads a through ball to Inaki Williams but he is unable to control it. That was dangerous.
10' First ten minutes played, it's Ghana 0-0 Angola.
13' Great defending from Angola in this first half.
16' Angola comes forward with a real purpose, a chance to score but the attacker hesitates, allowing Ghana's defense to regroup. The game has been open since kick-off.
18' Nice footwork from Kamaldeen Sulemana, a good chance falls to Mohammed Kudus but his attempt is saved.
20' This has been a very close contest between Ghana and Angola.
24' It's a corner for Angola. It is taken but wasted.
26' Kuduuuuuus! The Ghana star fires a shot from distance but it is well-saved by the Angola goalkeeper.
30' We have now played half an hour. Ghana 0-0 Angola. 15 minutes more to halftime. The game is now paused for a short cooling break.
33' Game has now restarted with Angola making their first substitution of the match.
35' Angola wins a free-kick in a very dangerous position. This can result in a goal!! The free kick is taken but the defense of Ghana deals with it.
38' The tempo of the game has remained slow since kick-off. Both sides are unwilling to take risks.
40' We are into the last five minutes of the first half.
41' Ghana has another corner after a quick counter-attack. Jordan Ayew takes the corner but is straight into the gloves of the Angola goalkeeper.
45' We will do five minutes of injury time. Will there be a goal before the break?
45+3 Inaki Williams tries his luck from distance and wins a corner kick for Ghana. Last chance in the first half maybe. The corner is taken but comes to nothing.
Halftime:
That will be all the action in the first half. Ghana 0-0 Angola. We are back after 15 minutes with the second-half action.
The second half is underway:
46' Ghana with the first kick of the game!! Will there be a goal before full-time?
47' Angola wins the first corner of the second half. Quickly taken but wasted.
47' Pressure on Ghana now. It's another corner for Angola. Again, nothing comes out of the corner.
49' Ghana's Black Stars have now taken control of the game. The home team has a free kick on the edge of the Angola area.
50' Nothing comes out of the free-kick unfortunately.
53' Kamaldeen Sulemana with some good work down the left side of the attack. He dummies his marker and fires a shot which is parried over the bar for a Ghana corner.
55' Inaki Williams drives forward and lays an inviting pass in the path of Thomas Partey, he unleashes a shot but it is easily saved.
60' We have played an hour in this 2023 AFCON qualifier. Ghana 0-0 Angola.
63' Jordan Ayew fires a shot from distance but is saved. That was a good effort.
64; Angola makes two substitutions at a go.
68' Ghana coach Chris Hughton makes a substitution. Inaki Williams comes off and is replaced by Antoine Semeny. Jordan Ayew is replaced by Joseph Aidoo. Meanwhile, Abdul Salis Samed comes on for Edmund Addo.
71' The changes have made an instant impact. Ghana already piling pressure on the Angolans. Is there enough time for the Black Stars to score?
73' The tables have turned. Angola have a free-kick in a good position to score. It is poorly taken and over the bar.
75' We will have another cooling break before the game continues.
80' What a chance for Ghana. Partey finds Antoine Semenyo with a sleek through ball but he is unable to find the back of the net.
82 Kamaldeen Sulemana is replaced by Osman Bukari.
86' Joseph Aidoo is on to replace injured Ghana defender Alexander Djiku.
90' We have exhausted the entire 90 minutes of regulation time. There will be six additional minutes played for injury time.
90+ GOAL!!!! Antoine Semenyo scores to break the deadlock. Buzzing scenes at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. This definitely wins it for the Black Stars.
Full-time: It's all over at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Ghana takes all three points after dramatic end to a tough contest.