Ghana’s journey to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has hit an unexpected roadblock, as the Black Stars suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at home to Angola at the iconic Baba Yara sports stadium.
This loss, breaking a 25-year unbeaten record at the venue, has left the four-time AFCON champions in a precarious position, sitting joint bottom of Group E.
Ghana are currently joint bottom in Group F. The top two teams will qualify for the 2025 AFCON. pic.twitter.com/eyDRV0eEJ9
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 5, 2024
The match, played under the scorching sun in Kumasi sun, saw a spirited Angolan side capitalize on a defensive lapse in the 93rd minute. Substituted Milson found himself in the right place at the right time and silenced the usually energetic Ghanaian crowd.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sudan had squeezed past Niger with a 1-0 victory, further complicating Ghana’s path to qualification. The results leave Angola and Sudan joint top of the group, each with three points, while Ghana and Niger languish at the bottom without a point to their names.
The Black Stars’ performance was a far cry from the dominant displays that fans have come to expect in recent times. Despite controlling possession for large portions of the game, Ghana struggled to create clear-cut chances, with star players like Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus unable to unlock the resolute Angolan defence.
Head coach Otto Addo, facing mounting pressure after the defeat, remained defiant in the post-match press conference.
“The second half makes me very confident we can qualify. The good thing is that it’s all in our hands because we still have to face all the teams in the group.”
His optimism, however, was met with scepticism from sections of fans who threw plastic waste onto the pitch in protest.
The road ahead for Ghana looks challenging. Their next fixture sees them travel to Morocco to face Niger, a team desperate to open their account in the group. This away tie now takes on added significance, with anything less than a win potentially derailing Ghana’s qualification hopes.
While the Black Stars have consistently qualified for each AFCON since 2004, reaching the final twice, their recent performances have often fallen short of expectations with the team struggling to make it past the group stage.
The last time Ghana failed to qualify for an AFCON was in 2004, a streak that could now be tested. As the qualification campaign unfolds, football fans across Africa will be keeping a close eye on Group E.
The prospect of a major tournament without the Black Stars seems unthinkable, but as this opening day upset proves, in football, nothing can be taken for granted.
