The Baba Yara Stadium, a cauldron of anticipation, fell into a stunned silence as the final whistle blew. Angola had just dealt Ghana a bitter defeat, a 1-0 upset that sent shockwaves through the nation.

The match had been a tense affair, a battle of wills between two teams desperate to secure a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Both sides had shown glimpses of their attacking prowess, but it was Angola who ultimately proved more clinical.

Ghana had dominated much of the first half, with Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo causing problems for the Angolan defence.

However, Neblu Adilson Cipriano, the Angolan goalkeeper, stood tall, denying the Black Stars on several occasions.

The second half saw a similar pattern, with Ghana creating more chances but failing to convert them.

It was a cruel twist of fate when Angola snatched the victory in the dying moments of the game.

A defensive error allowed Felicio Joao to pounce on a loose ball and fire past Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Black Stars, who had been expected to dominate their group.

The opening game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers had delivered a stunning upset, a result that would be talked about for years to come.

Ghana’s next match is against Niger at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco while Angola host Sudan in Luanda on Monday.

Ghanasoccernet