African Cup of Nations qualifier: Ghana 3 Congo 1

Ghana extended their lead to three points atop Group I in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Congo on Friday.

All four goals were scored in the space of 17 second-half minutes as Ghana moved a win clear of Sudan – who have a game in hand – in front of their home crowd at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, making his first international appearance in over a year, came off after 73 minutes and was left icing his right knee.

Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu completed the scoring 12 minutes from the end with the pick of the goals, a 40-yard screamer.

Defender Isaac Vorsah had opened the scoring on 62 minutes with his first international goal.

Ghana doubled their advantage four minutes later through striker Prince Tagoe, who replaced the suspended Asamoah Gyan, as he headed home to make it 2-0.

But Congo pulled back an unlikely goal 15 minutes before the end when Fabrice N’Guessi’s strike beat Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Badu’s late screamer ensured there would be no comeback, as Ghana moved another step closer to qualification for next year’s tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.