Ghana’s Black Stars have put their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification hopes in jeopardy after failing to select up a win of their first two matches of the qualifying marketing campaign.
Otto Addo’s males conceded late and ultimately succumbed to a defeat inflicted by Angola in Kumasi earlier than enjoying out a 1-1 draw in opposition to Niger. The disappointing outcomes depart Ghana wobbling on the sting, with only a level from a attainable six.
The Black Stars now discover themselves in third place, trailing Angola (6 factors) and Sudan (3 factors) within the race for a spot in subsequent yr’s event.
The JoySports group breaks down the teachings realized from the 2 encounters, because the strain mounts on Ghana to show issues round.
Turf not a significant concern
The Baba Yara Sports activities Stadium turned a central matter of dialogue after Ghana’s loss to Angola, with the Nationwide Sports activities Authority going through heavy criticism for the bumpy pitch. Ghana coach Otto Addo partially blamed the defeat on the enjoying floor.
In response, NSA Deputy Director Basic Bawa Majeed posed the ironic query of whether or not Angola “had been enjoying within the sky,” a remark that, whereas unedifying, managed to shift the dialog away from the consequence and onto the poor situation of the pitch.
Ghana’s second match in opposition to A hundred and twenty fifth-ranked Niger on the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco – residence to two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners RS Berkane – got here with heightened expectations.
Nonetheless, it was the identical previous story for the Black Stars, because the group struggled to interrupt down a Niger facet that had conceded 5 targets of their earlier 5 matches. It took an unlikely scorer in Alidu Seidu, whose gorgeous strike simply earlier than half-time broke the impasse.
On a ‘correct’ turf, the barometer of success would have been a convincing win. However for the umpteenth time, Ghana’s leaky protection was palpable, because the hosts managed extra makes an attempt on purpose (14) and ultimately equalised, and earned a well-deserved level after a gutsy efficiency.
Whereas the Kumasi pitch might have been low-quality, Otto Addo and his group will certainly acknowledge that having only one level from two matches is a good reflection of their efficiency.
Black Stars ‘beneficiant’ protection persists
Ghana as soon as had the status of the “one-goal challenge,” recognized for expertly defending a lead, significantly in the course of the 2010 period when the nation reached its peak, making it to the AFCON remaining and the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Over a decade later, that after parsimonious protection has grow to be the nation’s Achilles’ heel. Ghana conceded six targets in three matches on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, allowed 4 in two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, and have now conceded two within the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
To place it into perspective, Ghana have stored only one clear sheet in 2024 – a goalless attract a global pleasant with Namibia in January. The latest defensive shows within the qualifiers don’t bode properly for the nation transferring ahead.
Dearth of left-backs
Typical right-back Alidu Seidu barely put a foot incorrect whereas enjoying as a makeshift left-back, significantly from a defensive standpoint, displaying good anticipation when monitoring again and diving into tackles. Offensively, he netted an absolute belter in opposition to Niger, however that doesn’t overshadow his shortcomings in fulfilling different important duties of a left-back.
After 180 minutes of soccer, the 24-year-old had a 0% success price from his 4 crossing makes an attempt, with only one key cross. This highlights the problem of missing the attention to carry out successfully on each ends, as a educated left-back would.
He was tasked with filling the void left by the established Gideon Mensah, who picked up an harm simply earlier than the qualifiers. Baba Rahman, who was once the nation’s primary, has been reluctant to characteristic for the Black Stars because of excessive criticism over his performances, additional sophisticated by his relationship with Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku. Ebenzer Annan, who’s but to make a aggressive debut for Ghana, was an possibility within the squad however Otto Addo simply didn’t wish to roll the cube.
Respectable job by Seidu, however the technical group shouldn’t rely solely on the combative defender. They should widen their search globally for an acceptable substitute for Mensah ought to he be absent once more.
‘Toothless’ assault
Ghana didn’t have a problem discovering the again of the web, having scored of their final seven matches throughout all competitions. The issue has at all times been an absence of killer intuition and urge for food for actual destruction.
Nonetheless, this time round, Ghana struggled to interrupt down their opponents, with most makes an attempt being blocked. Over the 2 video games, the Black Stars created 4 large possibilities -two per recreation on common which isn’t sufficient to spice up their scoring skill – and scored one purpose.
Strikers predominantly thrive on service and might grow to be nameless with out it. Forwards like Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo are recognized for his or her scoring skill.
Hopefully, that is only a blip. The minor points should be addressed earlier than they grow to be main issues.
Black Stars job ‘more durable’ than imagined
After a disastrous group-stage exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, morale was low till Otto Addo stepped in, and markedly improved the group which had a ripple impact amongst Ghanaians.
This was on the again of the consecutive vital wins away to Mali in Bamako and in opposition to the Central African Republic in Kumasi, placing the group proper in competition for a slot on the 2026 World Cup.
Nonetheless, this rosy interval appears to have hit a actuality verify because the Black Stars had been introduced right down to earth by Angola and Niger, who will not be a part of Africa’s high 15 soccer nations, based on the most recent FIFA World rankings.
Ghana coach Otto Addo admitted he “by no means thought” his facet would lose to Angola and was very “upset, to be sincere” after the draw with Niger. The job seems to be far more tough than the 49-year-old had envisioned.
He should now mud himself off and handle the troubling points earlier than Ghana’s double-header in opposition to Sudan in October.