By Michael Oti Adjei BBC Sport, Kumasi

Captain Stephen Appiah set Ghana on the way with a 27th-minute goal

Ghana became the last team to reach the group stages of the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers when they beat Somalia 2-0 in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The win sends the Black Stars through 7-0 on aggregate.

Captain Stephen Appiah led by example when he opened the scoring on 27 minutes with a deft chip.

Somalia, who were helpless when losing the first leg 5-0 on Sunday, were content to sit back and repel the Ghanaian attacks as they sought - in the words of coach Abdi Farid Gella - to "reduce the number of goals".

Full list of 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup preliminary qualifying results

Yet the Somalis had their moments, most notably in the 29th minute when Yusif Ali nearly draw them level with a fine 30-yard drive that Ghana goalkeeper George Owu saved in spectacular style.

At the other end, Ghana had several opportunities to extend their lead but were denied by poor finishing as well as some impressive saves from Somali keeper Osman Abdulkadir.

Yet Abdulkadir was finally beaten again when Hearts of Oak striker Lawrence Adjei scored in injury time to wrap up victory for Ghana.

The one blemish for the Black Stars came when forward Bernard Don Bortey was sent off after 59 minutes for elbowing an opponent, and Ghana coach Ralf Zumdick was unhappy with Bortey's behaviour.

"It is important that players can stay calm even when things are not right," the German told the BBC Sport website.

Both legs of the Ghana-Somalia preliminary qualifier were played in the west African country as a result of the political instability in Somalia.

The Black Stars now join twenty-nine other African countries in the group qualifying stages of the 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup.

The 30 nations will compete in five groups of six in a round-robin series which will start in June 2004.