Debutants Madagascar shocked Ghana 2-1 in the Group C opener of the 2022 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) on Sunday night at Stade Chahid Hamlaoui.
Solomampionon Razafindranaivo and Tokinantenaina Tsiry Olivier Randriatsiferana scored for the Island nation while substitute, Augustine Agyepong, found the consolation for the Black Galaxies.
The defeat means Annor Walker’s charges are bottom of the group while the Barea sit top with three points. The other group game between defending champions Morocco and Sudan did not take place because Morocco did not turn up.
Madagascar punished Ghana for their slow start to the game, utilizing the Black Galaxies’ disorganization at the back. Solomampionon Razafindranaivo tucked home the game’s opening goal from the middle of the box in 10 minutes when Ibrahim Danlad rushed out of his line but failed to put the ball to safety.
The referee awarded Ghana a penalty a minute later when Daniel Afriyie slipped inside the Madagascar box, but it was overturned after VAR intervention.
It looked like the slippery nature of the pitch was a disadvantage to only the Black Galaxies as they could not cope throughout the game.
Two decent chances later fell to Daniel Afriyie, who headed wide, and Abdul Razak Yussif, who missed a chance he should have been burying in the first half.
Tokinantenaina Tsiry Olivier Randriatsiferana doubled the lead for the Barea 61 minutes in after a bad mistake from right-back, Augustine Randolf, whose short back pass was latched on and converted.
Randolf was yanked off immediately with Augustine Agyepong his replacement. Agyepong then struck beautifully from a distance to pull one back for the Black Galaxies in the 68th minute.
Chances later fell to Ghana, including a series of shots toward the end of the game that should have been converted, with players lining up and taking their turns to shoot. None succeeded in putting the ball at the back of the net.
The Malagasy rightly earned a 2-1 win to go top of the group. Ghana will now take on Sudan on Thursday in their second group game and must win convincingly to progress.