Ghana’s Black Stars needed a 72nd-minute equaliser from Osman Bukari to hold Angola’s Palancas Negras to a 1-1 drawn game at the 11th November Sports Stadium in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers on Monday afternoon in Luanda.
Ghana coach Chris Hughton made significant changes to the starting XI after he controversially benched Arsenal star Thomas Partey while Lens midfield gem Abdul Samed Salis and Serbia-based Edmund Addo started the game.
Athletic Club’s Inaki Williams was dropped to the bench while Jordan Ayew and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo were started upfront.
Despite Ghana’s equaliser, it was Pedro Goncalves’ men who completed 87 percent of their passing and created more dangerous chances than the Black Stars.
In the first-half it took the brilliance of Lawrence Ati-Zigi to deny Gelson Dala the opening goal as the aggressive-looking hit four shots on target within the regulation time.
Regardless of the chances that fell aplenty, it took a 51st-minute penalty from Reading attacker Lucas Joao to score the opening goal after Daniel Amartey fouled his marker inside the box.
The goal sent the fans into a jubilant mood at the stadium but the introduction of Majeed Ashimeru, Osman Bukari, and Joseph Paintsil changed the equation as Ghana duly equalised from a Paintsil assist as Bukari poked the ball home for the winner.
