Brave Uganda pipped by Ghana

But it was Ghana who took home the three points in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations Group D encounter, Andre Ayew’s first half penalty enough to seal a 1-0 win.

Milutin Sredojevic’s unfancied Cranes gave their all in attempting to break down Avram Grant’s Black Stars in the second half, and were let down only by a lack of quality in the attacking third.

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, on the other hand, showed all his experience in capitalising on a defensive error to win the penalty from which Ayew found the net.

Ghana’s class told for much of the first half, with Christian Atsu causing havoc down the right wing, tearing past Cranes left back Joseph Ochoya almost at will.

Andre Ayew was full of menace too, floating behind a front two of his younger brother Jordan and Ghanaian striking legend Gyan.

Gyan looked in excellent physical shape and twice almost scored with trademark headers, just putting wide a cross from right back Harrison Afful and then doing the same with a delivery from Atsu.

Andre Ayew wasted a great chance to put Ghana in front in the 29th minute, a little too casual from his brother’s cut-back, with Denis Onyango making a routine save to his right.

Uganda defended with plenty of spirit an no little skill, as they did last year in earning a valuable point in 2018 World Cup qualifying in Ghana. But they paid for a poor error by centre back Isaac Isinde in the 31st minute. Isinde gave the ball away to Gyan in his own penalty area, and as Gyan went past him, the merest of contact was enough to send the wily striker to ground.

Botswanan referee Joshua Bondo pointed to the spot, and Andre Ayew sent Onyango the wrong way from the spot.

The pitch surface in Port Gentil was not ideal, cutting up all over the place from the start of the match. Black Stars left back Baba Rahman was its main victim, his studs sticking in the turf early on and sending him tumbling to the ground in some pain.

Rahman came back on after treatment, but went down again as he reached into a challenge in the 38th minute and immediately signaled to the bench that he could not continue.

Frank Acheampong came on in his place, and the Black Stars defence immediately looked a little more vulnerable down its left side. Luwaga Kizoto released Frauku Miya for Uganda’s best chance of the opening period, and his low shot struck the outside of the post.

A couple of minutes before half time, Miya whipped in a dangerous cross that just evaded everyone and went out for a goal kick.

After the break, Uganda continued to compete gainfully and around the hour mark a brilliant strike from Tonny Mawejje had the crowd gasping as it flew just wide

In the 67th minute, Baroka FC striker Geoffrey Massa lined up a free kick from some distance out , and powered his effort just over the bar.

Ghana should have sealed it with five minutes left, as a quickly-taken free kick saw Atsu sneak in again, but his low shot was superbly kept out by Onyango at close quarters.