Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, has refused to throw in the towel despite not securing a victory in the first two matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Black Stars, who were tipped as favorites for the group, have lost and drawn each of their opening two games, leaving them with just one point from a possible six.

With Angola and Sudan picking up impressive results, there are concerns that Otto Addo could be the first coach to end Ghana's record at the AFCON, which has seen the country qualify for every edition since 2006.

But the former Dortmund trainer is confident that things will turn around and that he has the competence and tools to weather the storm.

Speaking to the press after Ghana’s defeat to Niger in Morocco on Monday, September 9, 2024, Otto Addo noted worryingly that his major concern now is stopping the team from giving away goals.

"So it's still possible, but we have to improve, we have to improve much," said Addo in the post-match presser. "We have to improve to use our chances and also to defend better in detail and to learn our lessons.

"Like I said, the goals are too cheap and we have to grow from this, we have to learn from this. This is even more than a wake-up call."

"We are not allowing too cheap goals. Like I said, I am disappointed; we didn't learn the lessons from the first game. Now it's a set piece, we are all back, we need to defend this better, this is for sure and like I said, I am really disappointed. But surely it's still in our own hands. We have the same points as Niger and now we have to wait," he said.

Group E of the qualifying series now has Angola in 1st place with 6 points, followed by Sudan in 2nd with 3 points, while Ghana and Niger share the 3rd and 4th places with 1 point each.

The qualifiers continue in October, with Angola facing Niger and Sudan locking horns with Ghana.



EK