By Simon Asare
Accra, Nov.13, GNA – Ghana’s Black Stars face Angola and Niger in the final round of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, needing a miracle to advance to next year’s African football showcase in Morocco.
Coach Otto Addo has had a tumultuous few months, with Ghana earning only two points in its past four matches and on the verge of losing out on the AFCON for the first time in 20 years.
Ghana’s chances of qualifying for next year’s AFCON appear slim, since Angola and Niger must defeat Sudan in the final two group matches.
The Black Stars of Ghana would also need to secure six points in the last two matches against Angola, who have already booked qualification, and Niger, who also need a miracle to qualify for the second AFCON appearance.
The match against Angola at the Estádio 11 De Novembro at 8:00 PM on Friday, November 15, 2024, could decide the Black Stars fate with regard to any qualification hopes even before taking on Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
Head-to-Head
The Black Stars would be seeking to avoid a second consecutive defeat to Angola’s Palancas Negras, who surprised them at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in September 2024. The Black Stars last played at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in March 2023, where they drew 1-1 against Angola in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. Osman Bukari, who scored Ghana’s equaliser in the encounter, received a late call-up to the Black Stars after missing prior games. The Black Stars have played Angola nine times, winning four, drawing three, and losing two. Niger’s most recent draw against Ghana’s Black Stars was their first point in a competitive encounter.
Ghana has over the years dominated the Nigeriens, having recorded two 9-1 wins in AFCON qualifiers in 1969 as well as a friendly encounter that same year.
Team News
Ghana’s Black Stars enter their final two matches with a reduced squad, missing numerous key players.
Thomas Partey of Arsenal did not receive a call-up from Coach Otto Addo for the final round matches, having missed the previous double header against Sudan through illness. Injuries will keep Ibrahim Osman, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, and Alexander Djiku out of the Black Stars’ squad. Some players, including Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer, Forson Amankwah, Terry Yegbe, Ebenezer Annan, and Kingsley Schindler, have been called up as replacements. Despite appeals from Ghanaians to include more home-based players in the squad, Otto Addo could only call up three players, including Samartex’s Isaac, Asante Kotoko’s Emmanuel Antwi and Nations FC Razak Simpson.
Kick-off Time: Ghana vs. Angola (19:00 GMT on Friday) Ghana vs. Niger (16:00 GMT on Monday)
GNA