Ghana 2–0 Somalia

Somalia’s narrow table edge

Somalia travel to face Ghana on Thursday with a slender advantage in Group C: they are third, one place above Ghana, after both teams collected zero points from their first two matches. Somalia’s goal difference is -3, compared with Ghana’s -4, so the gap is a matter of tie-breakers rather than points. With both needing to get their campaign moving, a win would offer a chance to close ground on the teams above them; defeat would make that task harder.

A difficult run for both

Both sides arrive after two consecutive defeats. Ghana have lost both of their Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches, scoring twice and conceding six. Those figures cover two matches in this competition only, not Ghana’s wider season form.

Somalia’s qualification record covers four matches: a draw and a win were followed by two defeats. They have scored twice and conceded four across those games, keeping two clean sheets. Their away record in the competition is one win and one defeat, with two goals scored and two conceded.

Familiar problems in the group

Ghana’s two-match home record in this competition includes a defeat, with two goals scored and four conceded. Somalia’s four qualification matches have brought a win, a draw and two defeats, leaving the visitors only a narrow edge in the table despite having played twice as many matches as Ghana in this competition.

Our prediction

Ghana’s home advantage could help, but their recent defensive record gives Somalia a chance to take something from the match. The draw remains a plausible outcome.