Ghana’s hopes of a successful 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Niger in their second Group F match on Monday.
The game, played at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco, saw the Black Stars struggle to find consistency, leaving them with just one point from two matches.
Niger threatened first, with Boubacar Hainikoye testing Ghana’s goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, with a powerful long-range shot in the 17th minute. However, Ghana took the lead against the run of play just before halftime.
Alidu Seidu’s deflected effort from outside the box caught the Nigerien goalkeeper off guard, giving the Black Stars a 1-0 lead.
Ghana had opportunities to extend their lead in the second half, but efforts from Mohammed Kudus and Inaki Williams were denied by Niger’s standout goalkeeper, Abiboulaye Hainikoye.
READ MORE: Otto Addo admits Ghana could have done better against Angola despite poor Baba Yara pitch
Niger remained determined and found their equalizer in the 81st minute, when Oumar Sako headed in from a corner after a goalmouth scramble, leveling the score at 1-1.
The draw leaves Ghana in a difficult position, with just one point from two games. Their next qualifier against Sudan in October is crucial, and a much-improved performance will be needed if the Black Stars are to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.
