The Black Stars played out an uninspiring stalemate with Madagascar in Group E Afcon qualifier on Sunday.

Both teams failed to find the back of the net after 90 minutes of action at the Berea stadium in Antananarivo.

Chris Hughton’s lads needed a win to qualify for the next edition of the highly anticapted AFCON 2023 in Cote D’Ivoire but flattered to deceive.

Skipper Andre Ayew returned into the line up for the first time since the 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Kamal Deen Sulemana and Joseph Painstil operated on the wings as Jordan Ayew led the likes in a four back system that featured Denis Odoi, Joseph Aidoo, Daniel Amartey and debutant Patrick Kpozo.

Ghana started the game the better side and had their first chance from a free kick which was whipped in by Jordan Ayew but was cleverly dealt with by Madagascar.

The hosts came close in the 15th minute after Dorian Bertrand sent in a cross which found no one in the box.

Kamaldeen Sulemana later saw his curler miss the post by inches. Joseph Paintsil also fired from a rebound but the shot did not trouble the host – much to the relief of their fans.

Bertrand and Carulos Andriamatsinoro combined on the left to give Ghana a scare but the last touch failed to get its intended power.

Chances were far and few in the closing stages of the first half as the whistle blew for the break.

Madagascar came back from the break looking to break the deadlock but the Ghana back line were equal to the task.

Thomas Partey forced a save from the Madagascar goalkeeper from a set piece before Chris Hughton introduced Ernest Nuamah in place of Kamal Deen Sulemana.

Serbia based winger Osman Bukari replaced Joseph Painstil. The former had a chance to score the winner for the Black Stars but his control was not the best as he fluffed the chance.

Mohammed Kudus was later brought on for Jordan Ayew as Ghana continued to pile pressure for the winner but the Malagasy put the breaks on him as the game winded up.

The hosts then resorted to ball retention and time wasting as the referee blew his whistle to end proceedings.

Ghana thus need a win or draw in their last game against Central African Republic in September to book a slot for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.