Ghana’s Black Stars continued their disappointing run in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a demoralizing 2-1 loss to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium. The team’s uninspired performance ended their campaign without a single win, raising questions about their readiness for competitive football.
The game saw Niger’s Menas take an early lead through Ousseini Badamassi. Despite a moment of brilliance from Ghana’s young talent Jerry Afriyie, who equalized in the 67th minute with a well-executed team goal, the Black Stars failed to capitalize on the momentum. Oumar Sako restored Niger’s lead late in the game, converting from a corner kick.
Ghana had a golden opportunity to salvage a point in injury time when Mohammed Kudus won a penalty. However, the Ajax midfielder squandered the chance, capping off a frustrating night with a poor overall display. Kudus struggled throughout the match, holding onto the ball too long and slowing down the team’s attack.
Apart from Afriyie’s standout performance, the rest of the squad delivered a lackluster display. Goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen conceded twice from corner kicks, though the defensive lapses in front of him were glaring. The back three of Razak Simpson, Terry Yegbe, and Nathaniel Adjei appeared inexperienced and disorganized, while the midfield pairing of Francis Abu and Ibrahim Sulemana lacked chemistry.
Substitutes like Osman Bukari and Kamaradini Mamudu failed to make an impact, while Kingsley Schindler and Ernest Nuamah showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t change the game’s outcome.
Player Ratings
Starting XI:
- Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (3/10): Beaten twice from set pieces, though his defenders offered little support.
- Nathaniel Adjei (4/10): Struggled to contain Niger’s attack and looked shaky throughout.
- Razak Simpson (4/10): Lacked composure and positional awareness.
- Terry Yegbe (4/10): Another underwhelming performance in the defensive line.
- Kingsley Schindler (6/10): One of the few players who showed some fight, but it wasn’t enough.
- Francis Abu (4/10): Offered little in midfield, failing to control the game.
- Ibrahim Sulemana (4/10):His partnership with Abu was ineffective.
- Isaac Afful (4/10): Anonymous for most of the game.
- Ernest Nuamah (6/10): Showed glimpses of quality but lacked support.
- Mohammed Kudus (3/10): A frustrating performance capped by a missed penalty.
- Ransford Koningsdorffer (3/10): Invisible for large stretches of the match.
Substitutes:
- Jerry Afriyie (7/10): The standout performer, scoring Ghana’s only goal.
- Osman Bukari (4/10): Failed to make an impact.
- Ebenezer Annan (3.5/10): Contributed little after coming on.
- Kamaradini Mamudu (3.5/10): Another ineffective substitute.
This loss highlights a deeper crisis within Ghanaian football, as the Black Stars’ inability to deliver under pressure continues to frustrate fans.
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