For the first time in 20 years, Ghana's Black Stars will miss the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to secure a place in the 2025 tournament. The team's hopes were dashed following a 1-1 draw against Angola in Luanda on Friday, a result that confirmed their failure to qualify. The Stars, who have won the AFCON four times, entered the match with just two points from four previous games in Group F, leaving them with little margin for error. They needed a win to keep their qualification hopes alive, but a failure to hold onto their lead cost them a spot in next year's tournament.
With only the top two teams from each group advancing, Angola (12 points) and Sudan (7 points) had already secured their places in Morocco, making Ghana's trip to Luanda largely a formality. The Black Stars had one final hope: a victory in Luanda could have kept their slim hopes alive, especially after Niger's stunning 4-0 win over Sudan earlier in the week.
Ghana seemed to have the upper hand early in the game, with captain Jordan Ayew scoring a 19th-minute free-kick to give them the lead. In the first half, Ghana was buoyed by a penalty save from goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, who denied Angola’s N’bala Nzola. However, Angola equalized in the 64th minute, thanks to a strike from substitute Zini, who beat his markers and fired past Manaf, keeping the score level at 1-1.
The second half saw Angola push hard for a winner, controlling much of the play and creating several opportunities. Despite some brave saves from Manaf and a few chances for Ghana, the game ended in a draw, leaving the Black Stars with no chance of qualifying for the tournament.
Ghana's failure to qualify marks the end of a frustrating campaign. The final group match against Niger in Accra on Monday will be a formality for Ghana, who are already out of contention. This marks the first time since 2004 that Ghana has failed to qualify for the AFCON, following a similarly disappointing campaign where they finished bottom of their group with just four points. For the Black Stars, the road to Morocco is over, and their hopes for redemption will have to wait for another time.
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