Jordan Ayew stepped up to the spot in the first half, and the goalkeeper said no. It did not matter. Ghana shook it off and went on to claim a clean 2-0 home win over Somalia, opening their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign on a confident note.
The Black Stars looked settled despite the early stumble, controlling the game well enough to make sure the missed penalty was nothing more than a footnote by full time. A two-goal margin with a clean sheet is exactly the kind of start a team wants when beginning the long road to a major tournament.
Afcon 2027 is still a few years away, but qualifying points are already on the board for Ghana. With the opening result secured, the pressure now shifts to what comes next in the group stage. Early days, but the Black Stars will take it.
Originally published by BBC Africa.