Good evening and welcome to the live text commentary for the game between Ghana and Cape Verde.
The Black Stars are facing off with their counterparts from Cape Verde in their Group B opening match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Ahead of kick off at 8pm, Ghana head coach Chris Hughton has named his starting eleven for the match against Cape Verde tonight.
Experienced goalkeeper Richard Ofori is the preferred choice to man the goal post for Ghana and will be protected by a back four that includes Gideon Mensah and Mohammed Salisu.
RC Lens midfielder Abdul Salis Samed is the main man in the Ghana midfield and will work with Majeed Ashimeru and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer.
England-based forward Antoine Semenyo is the striker to lead the lines for the Black Stars tonight and will be receiving support from Jordan Ayew and Joseph Paintsil from the flanks.
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🗞️
- Salisu and Djiku at the back 🧱 - Semenyo spearheads the attack 👊🏾 - Ashimeru starts in midfield 💫 - Ransford Yeboah 👌🏾#BlackStars pic.twitter.com/GeYCfQynqm
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) January 14, 2024
We are now 30 minutes away from kick off at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
The two national teams are out for the start of the game.
We will have their national anthems shortly before kick off.
First Half;
1’ The game has officially kicked off with Cape Verde getting us started. A reminder that a winner of this contest will go top of Group B.
2’ A very lively started for the Black Stars as Majeed Ashimeru drives forward with real purpose.
3’ Shouts from Cape Verde players looking for a penalty but the referee waves play on. VAR checks the incident but no penalty.
5’ The game has opened up after the touchy start. Who will get the first goal?
8’ It’s Cape Verde dominating the play in the last three minutes. The Black Stars need up up their ball recovery.
9’ Antoine Semenyo makes a good turn and is brought down in the Cape Verde box. Referee waves play on to signal there will be no penalty.
10’ Cape Verde wins a free-kick on the edge of Ghana’s penalty box. First yellow card to Alexander Djiku.
11’ Free kick is taken but Ransford Yeboah heads clear, taking on for the team in the process.
13’ Ghana 0-0 Cape Verde.
15’ Alex Djiku must be careful. His tackles have been hard and dangerous.
18’ Goal!!! Cape Verde have taken the lead against Ghana.
GOAL!
Cape Verde's Jamiro Monteiro puts his name first on the scoresheet! #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #GHACPV pic.twitter.com/Wpcr525oqv
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 14, 2024
22' Ghana still trailing Cape Verde by a goal. The Black Stars players are already looking tired.
25' Chance!!! Gideon Mensah sends in a good cross but Ransford Yeboah's finish is off target.
29' Cape Verde now toying with the Black Stars with good skillful play.
30' Ghana 0-1 Cape Verde.
36' Ghana midfielder Majeed Ashimeru scored with a thunderbolt strike and the crown are off their feet.
39' Wait. Ghana's goal won't stand. The referee after visiting VAR has chalked off the goal. Outrageous and the Ghanaians fans are angry.
40' We are into the last five minutes of the first half.
43' Alexander Djiku makes a timed tackle to deal with a dangerous Cape Verde attack.
45' Jordan Ayew wins a free-kick for Ghana in a very dangerous position. Meanwhile, we will play four additional minutes.
45+2' Jordan Ayew hits a ferocious shot but its way off target.
45+4 That will be all the action in the first half. Ghana heads into the break trailing to Cape Verde.
Second Half:
46' We are back for the second half. The Black Stars have kicked us off.
48' Cape Verde awarded a free-kick in a very dangerous position. Attacker Bebe is ready to take it. A goal will be disastrous for the Black Stars.
49' Bebe takes but the wall does its job.
50' Ghana 0-1 Cape Verde.
53' Good play on the wings by Joseph Paintsil but his final delivery is not good.
56' Corner kick for Ghana. Goal!!!!! Black Stars have equalised through Alexander Djiku. Good cross from Jordan Ayew. Game on.
59' Another chance for Ghana. Antoine Semenyo with a powerful run but his low cross cannot find Joseph Paintsil.
60' Ghana 1-1 Cape Verde.
62' The Black Stars are now playing well with much intensity.
🔄 63’ - SUBS
🔛 Andre Ayew, Inaki Williams, Ernest Nuamah.
↩️ Joseph Painstil, Antoine Semenyo, Ransford Yeboah.
🇬🇭 Ghana 1️⃣-1️⃣Cape Verde#BlackStars | #AFCON2023
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) January 14, 2024
64' Ernest Nuamah with a powerful drive but is saved by the goalkeeper.
67' Gideon Mensah appears to be sleeping on duty and gifts Cape Verde a free-kick and a chance to make several changes.
70' Ghana 1-1 Cape Verde.
73' Jordan Ayew breaks for a Ghana counter attack but is brought down. Yellow card issued to Cape Verde player.
75' Black Stars need a goal badly. Who will be the player to win it for Ghana?
80' We are into the final 10 minutes of this exhilarating contest.
82' Excellent stop from Richard Ofori to keep Ghana in the game. What a save to deny Rocho.
85' Black Stars players shout for a penalty kick but the referee signals play on. VAR checks the incident but no penalty.
88' Richard Ofori stands firm again to make a good stop to deny Cape Verde a goal.
90' We will play 8 minutes of additional time. Will we see another goal?
90+1 Madness in the defense of Ghana as Cape Verde scores to take a 2-1 lead.
It's all over here. Cape Verde have beaten Ghana 2-1 to bag all three points. This is where we end our coverage of today's game.
Catch as on Thursday for the coverage of the Ghana vs Egypt game.