Jonas Adjetey marked a memorable milestone in his international career, scoring his maiden goal for Ghana as the Black Stars secured a much-needed 2-0 victory over Somalia in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign on Thursday.
The VfL Wolfsburg defender emerged as Ghana’s unlikely hero, breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time to ease the pressure on interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren and breathe new life into the team’s qualification ambitions.
Ghana entered the encounter under considerable pressure following consecutive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening Group C fixtures. The Black Stars were desperate to rediscover their winning form, but their afternoon began with frustration when captain Jordan Ayew missed a 14th-minute penalty after Alidu Seidu was brought down inside the box.
Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, Ghana struggled to find the breakthrough against a determined Somali defence.
However, their persistence finally paid off in the 43rd minute. Mohammed Kudus delivered a dangerous corner into the penalty area, Mohammed Salisu directed a header back across goal, and Adjetey rose above the defenders to power home a superb header.
The goal was a significant personal achievement for the young centre-back, who celebrated his first-ever strike for the senior national team at a crucial moment in Ghana’s campaign.
Speaking after the match, an elated Adjetey expressed his delight at finally opening his international scoring account.
“It feels amazing to score my first goal. I have been waiting for this moment for some time now,” he said.
The defender credited his teammates for their encouragement and support, explaining that their collective contribution made the memorable moment possible.
“My teammates have been very supportive, and the rest pushed me a little bit, which made it a little bit easier for me to get the score. I am really, really excited to get it for the national team,” he added.
Beyond his personal achievement, Adjetey acknowledged the importance of the victory in restoring confidence within the Black Stars camp after their disappointing start to the qualifiers.
He insisted that the team must move forward rather than dwell on previous setbacks, stressing that the players remain confident in their abilities.
“Everything’s new, we can’t control the past results. Unfortunately, we didn’t do our best in the previous games, but it doesn’t mean we are not good enough,” he noted.
“As you can see, we did our correction in this game, and I think it’s good to continue like this.”
The victory represents an important turning point for Ghana, who had endured mounting criticism following their opening defeats. The improved defensive performance, coupled with greater attacking efficiency, offers Björkegren a foundation on which to build as the qualification campaign progresses.
For Adjetey, however, Thursday’s encounter will remain particularly special. His maiden international goal not only helped Ghana secure a vital victory but also announced his growing influence within the Black Stars setup.
With confidence gradually returning, Ghana will now turn their attention to the return fixture against Somalia, hoping to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in Group C.
