GhanaWeb Feature by Frank-Kamal Acheampong

Ghana’s Black Stars face a daunting task in their quest to secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Even a perfect finish in their last two games may not be enough to secure them a ticket.

As it stands, the Black Stars’ chances hinge on winning their remaining games and hoping for a favourable outcome from other teams. Ghana’s hopes are further dimmed by needing Sudan to drop all six points in their last games—a long shot that leaves only a slim chance for the Black Stars.

Sudan, who play a day before the Black Stars’ next game against Angola in Luanda, need only a point to potentially end Ghana’s hopes. The Black Stars will be forced to watch and pray that Sudan stumbles against Niger, a challenge given Sudan’s solid recent form under former Black Stars coach Otto Addo.

Niger, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four games, while Sudan have lost only once in six outings, making Sudan clear favourites.

Reflecting on the precarious situation, Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah admitted that the players will be anxiously watching the Sudan-Niger game, understanding the difficult road ahead. “The journey is not always going to be smooth,” Mensah stated. “We’ve come to the juncture where we have to hope and then work for ourselves... the focus is to win our six points, and everything that’s going to happen on the side, we’re there for it.”

For coach Otto Addo, the pressure mounts as he navigates the absence of eight key players, including Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, who were in top form. The withdrawals present a huge blow, and this AFCON could be the first the Black Stars miss in two decades.

Currently third in the group, the Black Stars have yet to win a game in the qualifiers, with losses to Angola and Sudan and draws with Niger and Sudan. Though Otto Addo has called up replacements—Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer, Forson Amankwah, Terry Yegbe, Ebenezer Annan, and Kingsley Schindler—the absences of Semenyo and Williams leave a significant gap.

Addo will look to Bukari, Jordan Ayew, Forson Amankwah, Ibrahim Osman, and Ernest Nuamah to drive the attack.

In defence, with Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, and Jerome Opoku unavailable, Addo will likely field Alidu Seidu, newcomers Isaac Afful and Razak Simpson, and the experienced Gideon Mensah. Kudus’ presence is a bright spot in the midfield, and he, alongside Elisha Owusu, who has been consistent throughout the qualifiers, may provide the midfield stability needed.

This team, though under pressure, still has the potential to secure a win in Luanda.

Failure to qualify would not only underscore the Black Stars’ recent struggles but would also reflect the deeper challenges facing Ghanaian football amid a series of underwhelming tournament performances and unresolved team issues.

For now, the country holds on to a slim hope, with the possibility—however small—that the stars could align and give them a path to Morocco in 2025.


Media personalities react to Otto Addo's squad to face Niger, Angola