Ghana 3 Mozambique 1: Grant's team make light of Gyan, Ayew absences
Goals from Frank Acheampong, John Boye and Jordan Ayew helped Ghana to a 3-1 AFCON qualifying win over Mozambique.
Ghana continued their smooth progress towards next year's Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 Group H qualifying win over Mozambique in Accra.
Avram Grant's team were without captain Asamoah Gyan and fellow influential forward Andre Ayew due to injury, but the latter's replacement - in-form Anderlecht winger Frank Acheampong - opened the scoring in the fourth minute.
Acheampong raced on to Abdul Majeed Waris' pass to produce an assured finish, although he picked up a knock towards the end of the half and made way for Leicester City's Jeffrey Schlupp at the interval.
Following some uneasy moments for the hosts during the opening 45 minutes - Mozambique's lack of cutting edge in attack letting them down - defender John Boye scrambled home after both the visitors' attempts to clear a corner and appeals for offside were unsuccessful.
Jordan Ayew made it two goals in three minutes before the hour, the Aston Villa forward darting on to a long ball and producing a deft, lobbed finish.
Mozambique got themselves on the scoresheet in the 67th minute when Apson Manjate powered home a header but the forward's effort would prove to be little more than a consolation.
Ghana forward Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu had a strong penalty appeal turned down during the closing stages and Mozambique will be up against it once more when the sides square off again in Maputo on Sunday.
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Grant's team boast a perfect record of three wins from three midway through the round robin, giving them a six-point lead over Rwanda and Mauritius, who face each other on Saturday.