Comoros scored their first ever goal and recorded their maiden win at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in dramatic fashion by beating four-time champions Ghana 3-2
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Comoros players celebrate historic AFCON win over Ghana
Africa Cup of Nations debutants Comoros have pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history by dumping out four-time champions Ghana.
Striker El Fardou Ben Nabouhane put the islanders ahead inside four minutes, before Ghana went down to 10 men as ex- Swansea City star Andre Ayew was shown a straight red card midway through the first half.
Ahmed Mogni doubled the lead before the Black Stars fought back to make it 2-2 Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
But experienced midfielder Mogni struck again in the 85th minute and tapped in his second, making it 3-2 and inflicting Ghana’s first group-stage exit since 2006.
The result in Group C prompted jubilant scenes in the Comoros dressing room as the team ranked 132nd second in the world scored at the finals for the first time in their history and then went on to record their maiden win.
To add to the incredible story, Comoros could now reach the knockout stages as one of four best-ranked third-placed sides.
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They will have to wait on results in the final round of matches, with the top two teams from each of the groups automatically qualifying.
Although the defeat on Tuesday was a new low for Ghana, their disjointed performances were cause for concern in the lead-up to the match.
Their 1-0 loss to Morocco preceded a 1-1 draw with Gabon, as Milovan Rajevac’s men finished bottom of the group table despite their spirited efforts following Ayew’s 25th-minute sending off.
Having failed to win an AFCON title since 1982, Rajevac is under serious pressure after returning for a second spell in charge in September.
The Serb was the man to lead the Black Stars to the final in 2010 and the World Cup quarter-finals that same year.
But times are harder for Ghanian fans after Rajevac could only guide them through to Africa’s play-offs for this year’s World Cup.
After only topping their qualifying group ahead of South Africa on goals scored, the West Africans are unseeded for the play-off draw – facing one of Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria for a place in Qatar.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Morocco came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Gabon and maintain their place at the top of the group.
And Naby Keita scored a wondergoal for Guinea as they made it through to the last-16, despite losing their final group game.
The Liverpool midfielder netted a sensational consolation strike to make it 2-1 against already-eliminated Zimbabwe.
Keita’s nation clinched second place in Group B courtesy of their four previous points and Malawi’s goalless draw with Senegal.
But the 26-year-old will not feature in their tie due to suspension, picking up his second yellow card in as many games in the 90th minute.
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