Ghana got its campaign at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to a worst possible start by surrendering a first half lead to lose 2-1 against Senegal on Monday.
The Black Stars had taken the lead with a spot kick well converted by Andre Ayew in the 13th minute, but goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Moussa Sow won it for The Senegalese team.
The game started at a slow pace but once it got into full gear, there was no turning back.
Ghana seemed to have stopped playing after the interval and from a 1-0 lead, conceded two goals in the second period to taste defeat in their AFCON opening Group C match.
Full credit to Senegal who passed the ball a lot better as the game progressed and took their chances when they arrived.
The 90th minute Senegal win followed a long kick out which ended with a three-touch move and Mame Biram Diouf clipped the ball on the edge of the area into the path of Moussa Sow who allowed it to roll along his body and bang...bottom corner...to fetch the match the winner.
That sent Ghana players hitting the deck with Senegal going wild
The Ghanaian fans who had been kept waiting for 12 minutes had something to cheer after Christian Atsu was brought down by the on-rushing Senegal goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul in the penalty box.
Left-back Baba Abdul Rahman had burst from deep to feed Andre Ayew who wasted no time in playing Atsu through on goal.
The Everton loanee applied a deft touch to take the ball away from Coundoul who had no choice but to bring down the swift Ghanaian winger.
Referee Bernard Camille rightfully pointed to the spot to hand Ghana a deserved penalty kick which was well converted by stand-in skipper Andre Ayew in the 13th minute.
The Lions of Teranga attempted roaring back instantly but Serge Mbodji’s free header was disappointingly off target.
Off that missed chance, the Black Stars kicked straight into a counter attack but Atsu’s final ball upfront was too heavy for the chasing Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu to catch.
The game went relatively stale until a 21st minute breakout by Jordan Ayew.
The Lorient man had done well to beat two opponents to lay the ball on the plate for Christian Atsu to convert.
But the youngster’s curling effort went agonizingly wide much to the dismay of the Ghanaian technical bench.
Dame Ndoye was then the first to be cautioned for a needless foul on Christian Atsu in the 24th minute for a ball that had already gone out for a throw-in.
Jonathan Mensah was unlucky not to have scored from his free-header off the resultant free kick.
Senegal came close to evening the scores in the 26th minute but Mbodji’s header came off the post much to the relief of the ball-watching Ghanaian defence.
Goalkeeper Razak Braimah then scored full marks six minutes later by flicking over a well struck over-head volley from Mame Biram Diouf.
Ghana broke out from defence moments later with outlet Jordan Ayew feeding Christian Atsu with an aerial ball.
But the 23-year-old’s volley back in was direct at Coundoul who made a clean catch.
The second half started pretty much like the first – a slow start as the players warmed themselves into thick action.
Senegal coach Alain Giresse made his first chance at the restart with Lamine Gassama replacing Papy Djilobodji.
Senegal where the brightest off the blocks and came close to equaling the scores in the 55th minute.
Dame Ndoye struck from just outside the area but the shot rattled the side net.
Striker Mame Biram Diouf made Senegal’s relative heightened pressure count by heading in his own rebounded header to draw Senegal even in the 58th minute.
The Lions of Teranga were well on top around this time with the nerves of the young Ghanaian team showing all over.
Andre Ayew in an attempt to stop an attack with a sliding challenge committed a bad foul and rightly got booked for it in the 64th minute.
The Senegal players were now queuing up to take shots at Ghana’s goal.
One of those shots struck by Stephane Badji went wide to the great relief of the under-pressure Ghana defence.
Coach Avram Grant made his first change in the 68th minute by throwing on Mubarak Wakaso for Christian Atsu.
Senegal however kept growing in confidence as they retained possession well to keep their dominance over the Black Stars.
The under pressure Ghanaian team were now left committing several errors in midfield.
Rabiu Mohammed in a desperate attempt to recover a lost ball gave away a foul 20 yards from the Ghana goal and was rightly punished with a yellow card.
Papa Diop should have scored in the 78th minute after dispossessing Jonathan Mensah to come face-to-face with goalkeeper Razak Brimah.
But the Levante man dragged his final shot disappointingly wide.
Avram Grant withdrew Rabiu Mohammed seven minutes from time for Afriyie Acquah.
Jordan Ayew almost won it for Ghana in the 87th minute but his diving header off a Harrison Afful cross went wide.
Grant then threw his final die by bringing on David Accam for Andre Ayew with barely three minutes of regulation time left.
Razak Braimah had to be called upon to make a vital save in added on time. Backtracking Jonathan Mensah’s back header almost caught him off guard as he was making his way out. He moved back quickly to save.
He however couldn’t stop the thumping header of Moussa Sow in the final piece of play before play was brought to an end.
