Ghana and Gambia headed into the break tied at 2–2 after a frantic, action-packed first half filled with set-piece drama, tense exchanges, and rapid momentum shifts.
The Black Stars seized control of the contest mid-way through the half, opening the scoring in the 27th minute when Ernest Nuamah cleanly converted a spot-kick. Just six minutes later, Ghana doubled their advantage through Felix Afena-Gyan, who struck a sensational direct free kick in the 33rd minute to put the home side firmly in the driver’s seat.
Tempers flared in the 36th minute as heated arguments broke out on the pitch, resulting in yellow cards for Ghana’s K. Oppong and Gambia’s Y. Bojang.
The fiery exchange seemed to spark the Gambian side back to life. Just a minute after the bookings, Muhammed Badamosi earned and stepped up to convert a penalty in the 37th minute, cutting the deficit in half.
Gambia’s relentless response was complete in the 42nd minute when Omar Colley finished off a clever setup from Y. Bojang to bring the Scorpions level at 2–2.
Both sides now head to the dressing rooms with everything to play for in what promises to be an equally explosive second half.
