Ghana Fail to Qualify for AFCON for the First Time in 20 Years After Angola Draw

• Former African champions, Ghana, will not be at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year
• The Black Stars failed to qualify for the tournament after a 1-1 draw with Angola in Luanda on Friday
• The Black Stars will host Niger in the final game of the qualifiers on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium

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The Black Stars of Ghana have failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in twenty years after a pulsating 1-1 draw with Angola in the penultimate game of Group F in Luanda.

Ghana opened the scoring early in the game after Jordan Ayew scored a fabulous freekick in the 16th minute but the host levelled after the break through a Zini header.

Having started the game the better of the two sides, the Black Stars wasted no time in taking the lead after Ayew fired home from 28 yards.

Angola were awarded a penalty 16 minutes later but M'bala Nzola's strike was saved by goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, who replaced Lawrence Ati Zigi in the starting eleven.

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The Black Stars were pinned back by the Palancas Negras, who created several chances but could not beat a resolute Ghana defence.

After the break, Angola coach Pedro Goncalves rang in early changes, bringing on the likes of Milson.

Milson's impact was felt right after the hour mark after sending in a cross which was met by the head of Zini for the equaliser.

The Black Stars had a chance to take the lead after Ayew threaded in a pass to second-half substitute Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorrfer, but the Hamburg forward took too much time as the ball was cleared.

Later, Mohammed Kudus was released in the box, but his effort went wide.

In the dying minutes of the game, forward Mabululu had a couple of chances but Nurudeen's bravery saved Ghana.

Ayew scores a beautiful freekick

Earlier, Yen.com.gh reported that Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew has given Ghana the lead in their penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola after scoring a fine freekick to open the scoring.

The Black Stars, who desperately need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive, responded to the pressure early in the game after the captain bent in a fabulous freekick after just 16 minutes.

The Angolans, largely missing in the early exchanges, were immediately awoken from their slumber as they began to put some pressure on the Black Stars team.

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Source: YEN.com.gh