Ghana head coach Otto Addo has acknowledged the mounting pressure following the Black Stars’ disappointing performances in their opening games of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
After a 1-0 defeat to Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium last Thursday, Ghana was eager to secure their first win of the qualifiers against Niger. Despite taking the lead with Alidu Seidu’s deflected shot in the 44th minute, the Black Stars were held to a 1-1 draw as Niger equalized in the 80th minute through Oumar Sako at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.
“Playing Sudan next will be difficult again. I knew from the start, it’s just some little margins, little details which can decide. This will be again, for us it will be a crucial match. We have to win, there is no way around it, and we have to win. If we want to have the chance to play better after, we have to win. We are under pressure, this is for sure and we have to do better,” Addo stated.
The Black Stars, currently sitting in 3rd place in Group F, will look to secure their first win of the qualifiers when they face Sudan in a doubleheader in October.
Angola leads the group with six points, followed by Sudan with three points. Ghana and Niger are tied with one point each, making the upcoming fixtures crucial for their qualification hopes.
