Ghana came from a goal down to draw with Angola in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers in Luanda on Monday, March 27, 2023.[ads2]
Before the game, Ghana had some of her key players like Andre Ayew, Mohammed Salisu and Alexander Djiku ruled out which forced coach Chris Hughton to hand an emergency call-up to Amiens SC defender Nicholas Opoku to serve as a backup.
Coach Hughton started the game without his deputy skipper Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams who were brilliant in the first game in Kumasi last Thursday.
With Daniel Amartey leading the team as the captain, the likes of Joseph Aidoo of Celta Vigo as well as Kingsley Schindler of FC Koln and AFC Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo were given starting berths while Inaki Williams had to start from the bench.
Both sides had some decent chances in the first forty-five minutes but failed to utilize the opportunities.
Angola returned from the tunnel to dominate the early minutes of the game which saw them getting the opener through Lucas Joao.[ads3]
Joao opened the score for Angola in the 51st minute from the spot after Daniel Amartey fouled an Angola attacker in the penalty box.
Ghana came in very strong for the equalizer but to no avail which saw coach Chris Hughton introducing Osman Bukari, Joseph Paintsil, Inaki Williams and Majeed Ashmeru into the game.[ads4]
In the 72nd minute, a pass from Joseph Paintsil in the penalty box fell on the laps of Osman Bukari who hurried the ball into the net to give Ghana the equalizer.
Ghana nearly had the second goal but efforts from Joseph Paintsil, Inaki Williams and Majeed Ashmeru in the dying embers of the game went fruitless.
Ghana currently lead the group E table with eight points after four matches while Central African Republic sit second with seven points after beating Madagascar by 2:0 on Monday afternoon.[ads5]