\n
GhanaWeb Feature by Frank-Kamal Acheampong<\/b><\/p>\n
Ghana\u2019s Black Stars face a daunting task in their quest to secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Even a perfect finish in their last two games may not be enough to secure them a ticket.<\/p>\n
As it stands, the Black Stars\u2019 chances hinge on winning their remaining games and hoping for a favourable outcome from other teams. Ghana\u2019s hopes are further dimmed by needing Sudan to drop all six points in their last games\u2014a long shot that leaves only a slim chance for the Black Stars.<\/p>\n
Sudan, who play a day before the Black Stars\u2019 next game against Angola in Luanda, need only a point to potentially end Ghana\u2019s hopes. The Black Stars will be forced to watch and pray that Sudan stumbles against Niger, a challenge given Sudan\u2019s solid recent form under former Black Stars coach Otto Addo.<\/p>\n
Niger, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four games, while Sudan have lost only once in six outings, making Sudan clear favourites.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the precarious situation, Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah admitted that the players will be anxiously watching the Sudan-Niger game, understanding the difficult road ahead. \u201cThe journey is not always going to be smooth,\u201d Mensah stated. \u201cWe\u2019ve come to the juncture where we have to hope and then work for ourselves… the focus is to win our six points, and everything that\u2019s going to happen on the side, we\u2019re there for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For coach Otto Addo, the pressure mounts as he navigates the absence of eight key players, including Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, who were in top form. The withdrawals present a huge blow, and this AFCON could be the first the Black Stars miss in two decades.<\/p>\n
Currently third in the group, the Black Stars have yet to win a game in the qualifiers, with losses to Angola and Sudan and draws with Niger and Sudan. Though Otto Addo has called up replacements\u2014Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer, Forson Amankwah, Terry Yegbe, Ebenezer Annan, and Kingsley Schindler\u2014the absences of Semenyo and Williams leave a significant gap.<\/p>\n
Addo will look to Bukari, Jordan Ayew, Forson Amankwah, Ibrahim Osman, and Ernest Nuamah to drive the attack. <\/p>\n
In defence, with Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, and Jerome Opoku unavailable, Addo will likely field Alidu Seidu, newcomers Isaac Afful and Razak Simpson, and the experienced Gideon Mensah. Kudus\u2019 presence is a bright spot in the midfield, and he, alongside Elisha Owusu, who has been consistent throughout the qualifiers, may provide the midfield stability needed.<\/p>\n
This team, though under pressure, still has the potential to secure a win in Luanda.<\/p>\n
Failure to qualify would not only underscore the Black Stars\u2019 recent struggles but would also reflect the deeper challenges facing Ghanaian football amid a series of underwhelming tournament performances and unresolved team issues. <\/p>\n
For now, the country holds on to a slim hope, with the possibility\u2014however small\u2014that the stars could align and give them a path to Morocco in 2025.<\/p>\n
Media personalities react to Otto Addo’s squad to face Niger, Angola<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GhanaWeb Feature by Frank-Kamal Acheampong Ghana\u2019s Black Stars face a daunting task in their quest to secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Even a perfect finish in their last two games may not be enough to secure them a ticket. As it stands, the Black Stars\u2019 chances hinge on winning their remaining games […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":229970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-250170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
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