2025 AFCON: Black Stars stunned again, this time by Niger

Ghana really needed this win. The Black Stars didn’t start the AFCON qualifiers well and unexpectedly lost to Angola, ending their 24-year unbeaten record at their home ground last Thursday. Determined to bounce back from this disappointing result, the Black Stars faced Niger in their second-round qualifier tonight in Morocco, where Niger was the host, but failed to record a win in their second attempt: 1-1.

Coach Otto Addo tried with swapping strikers for this game. New Leicester forward Jordan Ayew, who started in Ghana's previous game against Angola was benched for Inaki Williams, who showed little in this game and was replaced in the 71st minute. Mohammed Kudus also showed little. Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo was pale. The Black Stars failed to create much chances and also struggled to get the second goal which would effectively end the match, so they were punished in the 81st minute, after a bad defensive display in their own penalty area.

The first chance of the game was created by the home team after 15 minutes of play. Sosah came from the left and took a strong shot which was saved by Ati, but the deflection came to Hainikoye, who embarressed himself with a bad attempt of a bicycle kick. Sosah was all alone in the penalty area 20 minutes later but his attempt to score from a volley also failed miserably. So, the Black Stars decided to punish them for those misses and scored a leading goal just one minute before the break. It was a strange goal for Seidu, who came to the penalty area and took a not so strong shot at the goal, but the ball got a strange curve and keeper Hainikoye missed it and suddenly it was 1-0. The second half offered little excitement, and Ghana did have one good chance, but home keeper saved his net. But Addo‘s men created a defensive chaos in their own penalty area after Niger‘s corner kick and the ball came to Sako, who smashed it into the net for the final 1-1. Kudus had a chance in the 85th minute, but he was blocked by a Niger defender just five meters from the goal. Ghana is currently in thrid place and face Sudan at home in October.

AFCON QUALIFICATIONS:

Group F:

Monday:

Niger - Ghana 1-1 (0-1)

/Seidu 44 - Sako 81/

Tuesday:

22:00 (1.60) Angola (3.50) Sudan (7.00)

Group L:

Monday:

Burundi - Senegal 0-1 (0-0)

/Sarr (p) 71/

Tuesday:

22:00 (1.50) Burkina Faso (3.90) Malawi (7.75)