Ghana will host Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday as they kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, aiming to secure a crucial victory.
These two teams last met during the previous AFCON qualifiers, where Ghana edged out a 1-0 victory at home and drew 1-1 in the return leg in Angola.
Match Preview
Under the leadership of Otto Addo, in his second stint as Ghana’s head coach, the Black Stars have shown promising form. Despite an initial defeat to Nigeria upon his return, Addo has guided the team to two wins and a draw in four matches. Ghana’s recent performances include a thrilling 2-1 win over Mali and a dramatic 4-3 victory against the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In the latter match, Jordan Ayew scored a hat-trick, while Abdul Fatawu added to the scoreline in a goal-packed encounter.
Following a disappointing group-stage exit at the recent AFCON, which led to the dismissal of former coach Chris Hughton, the Black Stars are now looking to secure three consecutive wins across all competitions for the first time since July-August 2022. Historically, Ghana has maintained an unbeaten record against Angola, with two wins and two draws in their previous four encounters.
Angola enters the match on a high, having recently won the COSAFA Cup for the fourth time in July, where they went undefeated and capped off the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Namibia in the final. The Palancas Negras, coached by Pedro Goncalves, are eager to make their 10th AFCON appearance, having reached the quarterfinals in the last edition before being eliminated by Nigeria.
Angola’s qualifying journey in the last AFCON campaign saw mixed results, with two wins, three draws, and one defeat. They will look to improve their performance in a group that also includes Niger and Sudan.
Team News
Ghana has welcomed back several key players, including LA Galaxy winger Joseph Paintsil, Kingsley Schindler from Turkey, Anderlecht’s Majeed Ashimeru, and Athletic Bilbao’s forward Inaki Williams, who missed the June World Cup qualifiers. Leicester forward Jordan Ayew, who has scored in the last five games, is expected to lead the attack, supported by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.
Angola is likely to field a strong attacking lineup featuring Mabululu and Gelson Dala, who were instrumental in their recent AFCON success. Kialonda Gaspar and David Carmo are expected to anchor the defense.
Ghana’s Possible Starting Lineup:
Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Mumin, Salisu, Annan; Ashimeru, Partey; Paintsil, Kudus, Semenyo; J.Ayew
Angola’s Possible Starting Lineup:
Neblu; Mata, Gaspar, Carmo, Cruz; Fredy, Show, Nteka; Milson, Mabululu, Dala
Match Details:
The clash between Ghana and Angola is set to take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, kicking off at 4 pm on Thursday, September 5. This Group F opener is sure to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for crucial early points in the qualifiers.
As the Black Stars look to make a strong statement in their AFCON campaign, fans can expect a high-stakes, exhilarating match that could set the tone for the rest of the qualifiers.
Both teams are set to battle it out in Kumasi, with the top two teams from each group securing a spot in the prestigious 2025 AFCON tournament.
