After a gruelling trip, the Black Stars touched down in Angola on Wednesday night for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The beleaguered Ghana stars popped out of their flight, looking dejected as thoughts of “it’s over” ran down their minds.
Before Ghana travelled to Angola, the standings in Group F did not make for good reading, with the last qualification spot being occupied by Sudan, who were facing the whipping boys of the group, Niger, 24hrs before Ghana play Angola.
However, the final whistle on the eve of Ghana’s clash against Angola gave the crestfallen Black Stars players a new lease of life and belief, at least for another week.
Perhaps the most surprising result in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers was what panned out in Togo as Sudan were mauled 4-0 by Niger, who were bottom of the group and winless all year.
What the win does, in terms of the permutations is, it blows Group F wide open, with numerous possibilities heading into the final round of games: Sudan are second with seven points, while Niger are third with four. Ghana are bottom of the pile with two points.
A win for Ghana against Angola on Friday will mean all three sides -Ghana, Sudan, and Niger- will be in contention to qualify for the continental showpiece heading into the last day.
But as the good old adage goes, you can only challenge what is in front of you, which means the Black Stars cannot get too far ahead of themselves. The focus and preparations of the Black Stars must be centred on the Angola tie.
Ghana’s fate is all or nothing. Only a win will ensure that Ghana keeps its slim qualification hopes alive. But can the Black Stars realistically beat Angola?
Truth is Angola will decide who joins them to qualify for the AFCON. They will top the group regardless of what happens and they still have to face Ghana and Sudan. This is where the true favor will be needed 🤲🏾🥹
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) November 14, 2024
There’s a huge chance Ghana can prevail in the tie against Angola, owing to the fact that Angola have already qualified for the 2025 AFCON and have nothing to play for. Pedro Goncalves, Angola’s coach, could see it as an opportunity to give Angola’s fringe players a run against the Black Stars.
The last time both sides met, Angola ended Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten home run at the Baba Yara Stadium, which was well received back home after the Black Stars had beaten them by the same scoreline 14 years earlier in the 2010 AFCON. Despite recording that win, nothing will fill Angolans more than beating Ghana right in front of their fans.
Playing for pride against a four-time AFCON winner and playing to avenge their AFCON loss on home grounds 14 years ago will be the main drivers for this Angola team.
For Ghana, starting on the front foot is non-negotiable in this game. Throughout the year and specifically in the 2024 AFCON qualifiers, the Black Stars have been insipid in games, very difficult to watch, moving the ball from side to side with no real penetration and end product. The only time the team really was at its fluid best was the first of the double-header against Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium, where the entire team was guilty of profligacy.
Our hopes of qualifying is alive if we can win our two remaining matches
— Hope Ahiadu (@HAhiadu) November 14, 2024
Ghana’s recent visit to Angola (2023 AFCON qualifiers) ended in a 1-1 stalemate, a game which saw the Black Stars dig deep to find an all-important equalizer; Osman Bukari found the net for Ghana with about 15 minutes till the end.
On a day, where Niger have handed Ghana a huge boost with their result against Sudan, Otto Addo and his charges can not afford to slip up.
Otto may have to overturn the Black Stars’ underwhelming form without some of his most instrumental players; Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Joseph Paintsil, Ibrahim Osman, Alexander Djiku, Jerome Opoku, Tariq Lamptey, and Jonas Adjetey.
Eight players withdrew from the squad, with seven citing injury concerns while one -Joseph Paintsil- said “personal reason.” Six players – Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah, Forson Amankwah, Kingsley Schindler, Ebenezer Annan, and Terry Yegbe – who are equally capable of filling the void left by the aforementioned stars have been called up.
Prior to Otto Addo’s arrival, Ghana had failed to record a win in 2024 but the 49-year-old broke the duck when Ghana picked up consecutive wins against Mali and Central Africa Republic. That, however, seems a distant memory now.
Otto Addo himself, somewhat, may gradually be digging his grave after a largely ineffective second coming.
Ghana take on Angola in Luanda on Friday with the mandate of the Black Stars a win or nothing.
Source:
3news.com
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