The Island nation inflicted defeat on the Black Stars at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, with goals from Jamiro Monteiro and Garry Rodrigues doing the damage, while Alexander Djiku’s strike only served as a consolation.
Mohammed Kudus and Inaki Williams were both left on the bench, as Chris Hughton made some tough calls in his starting line-up.
Richard Ofori got the nod between the sticks, with Denis Odoi, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu and Gideon Mensah forming the back four.
Baba Iddrisu partnered with Majeed Ashimeru in a midfield pivot, while Joseph Paintsil and Jordan Ayew started on the right and left flanks, respectively.
Ransford Yeboah Konigsdoffer was also handed his first start in a Ghana shirt following his impressive cameo in the friendly against Namibia, filling the void left by Kudus at no.10, while Antoine Semenyo led the attack.
With the chance to move to the top of Group B following Egypt’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Mozambique earlier in the day, the Black Stars made a sharp start to the game, with Ashimeru nearly setting up Semenyo for an early goal following a marauding down through the middle.
Hughton’s side continued to push and had a penalty call waved away by the referee after Semenyo went down in the Cape Verde penalty box.
A few minutes later, the Blue Sharks also had a penalty shout denied after Djiku appeared to have handled the ball from a swinging cross.
