The Gambia produced a remarkable comeback in Accra, defeating Ghana 4–2 to keep their AFCON 2027 qualification hopes firmly alive.
The Scorpions travelled to Accra for only the second time to face the Black Stars in a Nations Cup qualifying campaign. Their previous meeting in the qualifiers came in 1994, when Ghana won 2–1.
Both coaches made changes to their starting line-ups. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz made three changes to his much-depleted squad, with goalkeeper Asare starting between the sticks, Jonas Adjetey coming into defence and Felix Afena-Gyan leading the attack. Jonathan McKinstry made five changes for The Gambia. Ibou Touray started at left-back, Ebou Adams returned to midfield, while Abdoulie Sanyang, Sulieman Camara and Muhammed Badamoesi were handed starts on the left wing, right wing and centre-forward positions respectively.
Ghana started brightly, with Ernest Nuamah creating the hosts’ first opportunity. The Lyon forward found himself in a one-on-one situation from the left, but his touch was too heavy and the ball went out for a goal kick.
The Black Stars continued to show their intentions, moving the ball from left to right in their yellow shirts, although The Gambia remained alert during the early exchanges.
The Scorpions created their first opening in the 11th minute when Abdoulie Sanyang broke through. After a scramble, however, a Ghanaian defender managed to clear the danger. Ghana won their first set piece in the 14th minute, but the resulting delivery was headed away by the Scorpions. A minute later, captain Omar Colley played a long ball towards Joseph Ceesay, who had broken the Ghanaian defensive line. Goalkeeper Asare reacted quickly to come off his line and collect.
Ghana dominated possession during the opening 20 minutes, recording 72% possession compared to The Gambia’s 23%. Ipswich Town winger Abdul Fatawu initiated another dangerous forward run, but Omar Colley was there to clear the danger.
The Gambia won their first corner in the 28th minute. Sulieman Camara’s delivery was intended for Badamoesi but failed to find its target. Camara continued to threaten. Following a one-two exchange, the Slovan Bratislava winger saw his effort blocked for another corner. Ghana’s set pieces continued to cause problems for The Gambia, with Baboucarr Gaye forced into a save from a Felix Afena-Gyan attempt.
The pressure eventually paid off for the hosts. In the 25th minute, Ghana were awarded a penalty after Muhammed Badamoesi was adjudged to have made contact with Jerome Opoku while attempting to clear the ball.
Ernest Nuamah stepped up and calmly sent his spot-kick into the bottom-right corner. Gaye went the right way but could not keep it out. Eight minutes later, Ghana doubled their advantage. Fatawu was brought down just outside the penalty area and Felix Afena-Gyan stepped up, firing a low effort towards the bottom-right corner beyond Gaye.
The Gambia, however, refused to collapse. Brought into the team for his direct running, speed and ability to attack space, Abdoulie Sanyang accelerated past the Ghanaian defence and was eventually caught by Gideon Mensah. The Hajduk Split forward won a penalty for The Gambia. Muhammed Badamoesi kept his composure and beat Asare with a right-footed effort into the high centre of the goal. It was Badamoesi’s seventh goal for The Gambia and his first time scoring in consecutive international matches.
The momentum had shifted. From the 40th minute onwards, The Gambia began to take control of the contest and deservedly found an equaliser. Joseph Ceesay’s throw-in was diverted by Yaya Bojang and fell perfectly for Omar Colley, who made no mistake with his right-footed finish. It was Colley’s fourth goal for The Gambia remarkably, all four of his international goals have come in away matches.
Ghana nearly regained the lead in added time when a misunderstanding between Alieu Saine and Baboucarr Gaye forced Saine to clear the ball off the line for a corner. The hosts could not find a third before the break, however, and went into the dressing room to a chorus of boos from the home supporters.
Carlos Queiroz responded immediately at half-time, replacing Thomas Asante with Benjamin Tetteh. Ghana came out looking to regain control. A free-kick was quickly taken after a challenge involving Badamoesi, allowing Afena-Gyan to fire towards goal, but his effort was blocked for a corner. Sulieman Camara and Bamba exchanged passes before Bamba’s effort went straight into the hands of Asare. In the 59th minute, McKinstry was forced into his first change when Abdoulie Sanyang pulled up with a hamstring injury. Ebrima Colley came on in his place.
Ghana continued to rely on their set-piece threat, but Ebou Adams was alert enough to clear another dangerous delivery. Nuamah then missed another opportunity in the 67th minute, firing his left-footed effort well wide. Two minutes later, The Gambia completed the turnaround.
Ghana pushed more players forward, leaving space behind their defence. A poor clearance by Gideon Mensah fell to Ebrima Colley. The former Hawks forward needed no invitation. With his right foot, Colley sent a low effort into the bottom-left corner to put The Gambia 3–2 ahead.
Ghana immediately searched for an equaliser. Fatawu saw another left-footed effort blocked as the Black Stars continued to push forward.
McKinstry made his second and third changes, introducing Sainey Sanyang and Mouhamadou Drammeh for Sulieman Camara and Abubacarr Barry. Ghana also made a change, with Augustine Boakye replacing Kojo Peprah Oppong.
The hosts continued throwing bodies forward, but Baboucarr Gaye produced one of the saves of the match in the 76th minute, denying Jonas Adjetey’s header. Nuamah came close again in the 80th minute, but his effort went narrowly wide. Muhammed Badamoesi’s evening then came to an end, with Adama Bojang replacing him for his sixth appearance for The Gambia. Fatawu came close once more in the 82nd minute, but his effort was cleared for a corner. Ghana Christopher Baah for Nuamah as the Black Stars committed even more players forward. But The Gambia remained resolute.
Deep into stoppage time, The Gambia delivered the final blow. In the 92nd minute, substitutes Sainey Sanyang and Mouhamadou Drammeh combined down the left.
Sanyang played the ball into Drammeh before continuing his run. Drammeh returned possession to Sanyang, who delivered a precise cross into the box. Ebrima Colley rose highest and headed the ball beyond Asare. Colley’s second goal of the afternoon completed a sensational victory for the Scorpions and capped one of the most memorable away performances in recent Gambian football history.
The victory keeps The Gambia’s AFCON 2027 qualification campaign firmly alive. The Scorpions will return home to face Ivory Coast at Independence Stadium on 14 November for Matchday Three.
