Ghana started their Afcon tournament with a defeat to Morocco in the Group C opener of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
An 83rd-minute Sofiane Boufal goal gave the North African giants the maximum points at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
The Atlas Lions came into the game as huge favourites, having lost only one of their last 21 matches in all competitions.
Both sides created a few clear-cut chances in the first half of the game, but none could find the back of the net.
Coach of the Ghana Black Stars Milovan Rejevac handed a start to Joseph Paintsil following his impressive showing in the pre-Afcon friendly match against Algeria last Wednesday in Doha, Qatar.
The Genk forward started ahead of Fatawu Issahaku on the right-wing, with Kamaldeen Sulemana attacking from the left, despite arriving late.
Arsenal star Thomas Partey and Spain-based Iddrisu Baba were handed starts in the midfield. This is the first major tournament for Baba.
The lone striker for the Black Stars was Jordan Ayew, who performed poorly upfront.
The late goal prompted a quick triple substitution by Rajevac as he brought on Fatawu Issahaku, Benjamin Tetteh and Daniel Kofi Kyereh.
However, the Atlas Lions looked more likely to score again as Saiss headed wide from a free-kick before Wollacott was forced into a brilliant late save.
The Black Stars will play Gabon in their second game on Tuesday, 18th January, a must-win game for the Stars to increase their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition while Morocco, on the other hand, faces debutants Comoros.
Story By Kobby Asamoah/ K.Boahene@Theghanareport.Com
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