Ghana coach Otto Addo has acknowledged the poor pitch conditions at the Baba Yara Stadium but insists the Black Stars’ 1-0 defeat to Angola cannot be solely blamed on the state of the playing surface.
The loss, which ended Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten run at the stadium, leaves the Black Stars at the bottom of Group F in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Angola’s Milson scored a last-minute goal in the 93rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Abdul Mumin to secure the win.
Addressing the media after the match, Addo conceded that while the pitch was substandard, his team needed to improve in all aspects of their game.
“I don’t want to blame the loss on the pitch, even though it wasn’t good. Against Central African Republic, it was also not good, but we won. We have to do better,” Addo stated.
Ghana had previously won a 4-3 thriller against Central African Republic at the same venue, but against Angola, they struggled to break down a well-organized defense despite controlling much of the possession.
With this defeat, Ghana finds themselves without points, level with Niger, while Angola and Sudan sit at the top of Group F with three points each. The Black Stars face a crucial encounter against Niger in Morocco, where a victory is essential for their qualification hopes.
