Ghana 2-3 Comoros: Debutants seal famous first win to maintain chance of progress as ten-man Black Stars head home

Goals from Ben El Fardou and two from Ahmed Mogni – Comoros’ first-ever in the Africa Cup of Nations – gave the debutants a famous win, and condemned Ghana – who had Andre Ayew ludicrously sent-off – to ignominious exit.

Comoros, meanwhile, will go through if results go for them elsewhere.

Ghana, who had been dreadful in their first two games, knew they needed a win to progress, and started with greater attacking intention than before.

But on four minutes they were caught on the counter, Youssouf M’Changama turning Daniel Amartey and found Ben, who finished superbly.

But it was on 21 minutes that everything really changed. Salim Ben Boina spilled Kamaldeen Sulemana’s shot, Ayew slid in to win the loose ball, Ben Boina redeemed himself to save well, and the ref somehow appraised a red card from VAR, when the pair collided thereafter.

Ben Boina was hurt, it is true, and could not continue, but that can happen in a contact sport. Ayew was not reckless, and was well within his rights to try and score.

On 64 minutes, and even though Ghana dominated the second half, the match looked over when Mogni finished smartly, but Ghana kept at it and set-piece goals, on 64 and 75 minutes, gave them a sniff. Comoros, though, held firm, then Mogni made things safe on the counter to seal an earth-shattering win.

And what’s more, if Guinea-Bissau don't beat Nigeria and Sudan don't beat Egypt, then Algeria don't beat Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone lose to Guinea, they’ll be joining Morocco and Gabon in their first-ever knockout stages, those teams having shared a 2-2 draw.

Ghana have absolutely no business being out of this competition. In Thomas Partey, they have one of the best midfielders around, in Jordan Ayew they have an excellent striker, and this should not have been a difficult group.

But Milovan Rajevac opted to leave Felix Afena-Gyan out of his squad, then sent his team out to play without zest or verve - that Ghana's most best and most intense football of the competition came when down to 10 men is extremely telling.

As such, Ghana go home, and when they get there, Rajevac will be doing very well to keep his job. Though they had the wrong end of a decision tonight, neither he nor his players have any excuses for what is an unmitigated disaster.

Ahmed Mogni (Comoros) One fine finish and one poacher's finish, alongside a performance of energy,bravery and invention.

Ghana: Wollacott 5, Yiadom 5, Amartey 5, Djiku 7, Rahman 5, Sulemana 6, Partey 7, Kyereh 6, Issahaku 6, Ayew A 6, Ayew J 7. Subs: Addo 6, Paintsil 6, Boakye 7, Owusu 6.

Comoros: Ben Boina 6, Youssouf 7, Zahary 6, M'Dahoma 6, Bakari 6, Selemani 6, M'Changama 7, Bachiru 6, Mogni 9, Djouda 6, Ben 7. Subs: Ahamada 7 Mattoir 6, Abdullah 6, Abdou 6.

Ghana have gone out of Afcon at the group stages for the first time since 2006.

4’ - GOAL! Ghana 0-1 Comoros (Ben El Fardou) HISTORY! COMOROS HAVE THEIR FIRST-EVER GOAL AT AFCON, AND IT'S A HUGE ONE! M'Changama streaks away down the right, turning Amartey and making him look silly. He then feeds it inside and his skipper opens his body to intimate a curler into the bottom corner than drags Solskjaer finish the opposite way! Comoros are flying and Ghana are in all sorts!

21’ - Ghana have created nothing, but here's Sulemana again, swiping a shot from outside the box that dips in front of Ben Boina, who fumbles ... then does well to collect the second ball as Dede ploughs into him.

24’ - Oh dear. Ben Boina is in trouble, and it looks like he'll have to go off. At first glance, it looked a fair challenge - the ball was loose - and looking at a still now, studs are up but Dede actually got the first touch and caught the keeper in the follow-through. The ref is checking var, but there's nothing to see here.

25’ - ANDRE AYEW, THE GHANA CAPTAIN IS SENT OFF! THAT IS AN ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS DECISION! WHAT A STATE GHANA ARE IN!

62’ - GOAL! Ghana 0-2 Comoros (Mogni) COMOROS ARE GOING TO WIN THEIR FIRST-EVER AFCON MATCH, AND GHANA ARE GOING HOME! Wollacott punches when he should catch, a second cross shoots across the face of the box and Comoros retrieve it. Ben cuts back for Mogni, who shifts it, makes a yard, and from the edge of the box wallops a low shot into the far corner!

64’ - GOAL! Ghana 1-2 Comoros (Boakye) Ghana win a corner and the front-post defender flicks it on, and because the keeper comes, Boakye just needs to direct his header on target, and he contorts to send a looping effort high inside into the near side-netting. They're back in the competition!

75’ - GOAL! Ghana 2-2 Comoros (Djiku) The pressure tells! Partey wins a colossal captain's header at the near post, flicks to the far, and Djiku taps home! Can Ghana save themselves? It's all going on now!

85’ - GOAL! Ghana 2-3 Comoros (Mogni) COMOROS COMOROS COMOROS COMOROS! They set Youssouf away down the right, he waits and waits and waits, drives a cross at Mogni, and he punches home from three yards! Ghana are done for! Comoros are still involved!