Ghana’s Black Stars suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Niger in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18, 2024, sealing their failure to qualify for the tournament for the first time in 21 years.
Niger’s Ousseini Badamassi put his side in the driver’s seat with a goal in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on Ghana’s early defensive lapses. The Black Stars struggled to find an equalizer in the first half, despite promising chances from Ernest Nuamah and other attackers, with the scoreline reading 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, Ghana mounted a comeback, with youngster Jerry Afriyie scoring a well-taken goal in the 67th minute to level the match. However, in a dramatic twist, Mohammed Kudus had a chance to give Ghana the lead when awarded a penalty, but his effort was saved, denying the Black Stars a potential comeback victory.
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With the defeat, Ghana finished at the bottom of Group F, securing just three points from six matches—three draws and three losses—with no wins to their name. Angola, with 14 points, topped the group, followed by Sudan in second with 8 points, and Niger in third with 7 points.
This marks the first time in over two decades that the Black Stars have failed to qualify for the AFCON, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the future of the team and their management under coach Kwasi Appiah. Despite strong individual performances, the team’s inability to secure a victory throughout the qualifiers has raised concerns about Ghana’s prospects in African football.
With the 2025 AFCON now without the Black Stars, attention turns to Angola and Sudan, who have successfully qualified for the tournament. The defeat to Niger marks a significant setback for Ghana, as they face an uncertain future heading into the next phase of international football.
