GENTIL, Gabon - Andre Ayew converted a first-half penalty as Ghana started its latest bid to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Uganda in Port-Gentil Tuesday. The West Ham United star's 32nd-minute conversion from the spot was all that separated the sides on an awful pitch as Ghana withstood Ugandan pressure in the second half and ended its recent poor record against the Cranes. The Black Stars, who have not won the continental title since 1982 and lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, can now look forward with confidence to their next game against Mali. Meanwhile, Uganda will have to wait a little longer for its first goal and points in its first appearance at the Cup of Nations since 1978. Eight of Ghana's lineup started the final in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, the only exceptions being Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Leicester City's Daniel Amartey. Ghana had struggled in recent matches against Milutin Sredojevic's side, failing to win any of three encounters spread over the qualifiers for the 2015 Cup of Nations and the 2018 World Cup. However, Uganda was without key players in center-back Murushid Juuko and midfielder Khalid Aucho through suspension, and they spent most of the first half on the back foot. Twice skipper Asamoah Gyan headed just wide and Christian Atsu fired narrowly over before Andre Ayew steered a low shot towards goal only for Denis Onyango to save. After knocking on the door in the first half-hour, the breakthrough came when Gyan robbed Isaac Isinde inside the area before being held back. The referee from Botswana pointed to the spot and booked the defender, with Ayew waiting for Onyango to commit before slotting in the penalty. Christian Atsu, the star of the 2015 tournament, tested Onyango soon after but by that point Ghana had lost left-back Abdul Rahman Baba, stretchered off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Spurred on by a small but lively band of supporters decked in red, yellow and black, Uganda finished the first half with a flourish, and Faruku Miya of Standard Liege should have done better than send in a shot that grazed the post on its way past. Tonny Mawejje came close and captain Geoffrey Massa tried his luck from a 30-yard free-kick that flew inches over Razak Brimah's bar, as Ghana held on. Indeed, they might have won by more had Atsu not been denied by Onyango five minutes from the end.
