Four-time champions Ghana have been excluded from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after crashing 3-2 to first timers, Comoros .
Playing the final group stage game in Garoua, the Black Stars suffered a first goal in the 4th minute and had skipper Andre Ayew was red carded after 25 minutes. The team of young players wiped out a two-goal deficit, but lost out when Comoros' Ahmed Mogni scored his second goal five minutes from time to end the game 3-2.
Comoros, a tiny island nation off the south east coast of Africa, finished third and will know on Thursday if they are among the best four third-placed teams, who will qualify to the second stage of the competition.
"We did not back down even after Ghana equalised. We always believed we could achieve a famous victory for our nation," said Comoros coach Amir Abdou, who has been in charge since 2014.
"I sent on attacking players in the belief that we could score a third goal and my decision paid off. Now we must wait to see if we are among the best four third-placed teams and play in the second round.
"We are satisfied with the way we played. We had a plan and stuck to it. We learnt from the mistakes we made in previous games. Obviously, I'm unhappy that we conceded twice, but we will improve."
Serbian-born Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said he would not resign despite his team finishing last with just one point.
"I came to Ghana to qualify the team for the World Cup. That is my primary target," he expressed.
"I will stay and lead the team in the March play-offs," he added.
The catastrophic night for Ghana started after just four minutes when Serbia-based El Fardou Ben Mohamed scored.
Mogni of French third-tier club Annecy, added a second just past the hour only for 10-man Ghana to hit back through goals from Richmond Boakye and Alexander Djiku.
Edmund Addo replaced Baba Rahman in the second half as Milovan Rajevac’s side looked to push more players forward.
Mogni struck again when he pushed a low cross from Ben Djaloud past goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott to give the islanders the spectacular victory.
Ghana Black Stars had three Premier League players, Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew.
Despite losing to Morocco and conceding a late equaliser against Gabon, Black Stars supporters in Cameroon were confident of beating Comoros to qualify.
But after falling behind so early, disaster struck on 25 minutes when Ayew, the top star in the team was shown a red card.
After falling further behind, Ghana exposed a Comoran weakness when defending corners and a Boakye header and a Djiku tap-in raised hopes of a dramatic victory.
The islanders did not fear, as they pressed forward and Mogni was among several Comorans lining up to push the cross over the goalline.
It was the first time the Black Stars have exited an AFCON without a single win.
The last time Ghana went out at the group stage was in 2006.
Morocco and Gabon drew 2-2 in Yaounde in the same group to retain first and second places respectively and qualify for the round of 16, which kicks off on Sunday.
Gabon missed three stars -- Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina and Denis Bouanga from French clubs Nice and Saint-Etienne - due to Covid-19.
From Sammy Heywood Okine
