Despite underwhelming performances at home on Thursday, Ghana and Angola qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals in January by finishing first and second in their respective groups.

Angola finished in second place despite being held to a scoreless draw in Lubango by already-eliminated Madagascar.

Ghana defeated the Central African Republic 2-1 in Kumasi thanks to a late goal from substitute Ernest Nuamah. Madagascar had already been eliminated.

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With 12 points, Ghana won Group E, followed by Angola with 9, two more than the Central African Republic, which needed to win its final game to make history.

In spite of the injury to their leader and Olympique de Marseille midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, the Central African Republic continued through stand-in skipper Louis Mafouta.

Just before halftime, Ghana’s new West Ham United player Mohammed Kudus levelled, then Antoine Semenyo created the winning goal by stripping the opposing defence of the ball and passing it selflessly for 19-year-old Nuamah to score from close range.

At the finals in the Ivory Coast, which automatically qualified as hosts, Ghana and Angola will join Algeria, Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia.

When Group F is finished on Thursday, another spot will be chosen.