Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, was left dissatisfied after his team settled for a 1-1 tie against Niger in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers on Monday in Berkane, Morocco.
Following the 1-1 draw, Ghana’s Black Stars are now in third place in Group F with just one point from two games, trailing behind Angola and Sudan who occupy the top two spots.
In a frank and honest post-match press conference, Otto Addo openly expressed his disappointment and frustration with the team’s display and the chances they failed to capitalize on.
“I am not satisfied at all,” he said. “We had the game under control, but the way we defended in the last 10 minutes was really bad. We trained for these set-piece situations, yet we conceded a disappointing goal.”
Otto Addo, pointed out the Black Stars’ inability to score from clear-cut chances, especially in the second half, as a major concern, despite making strategic changes to improve their performance.
“We controlled the game and created a lot of chances in the second half, but we didn’t take them. These games are tough, and Niger capitalized on their counter-attacks,” he added.
Reflecting on the defensive lapses, Addo voiced his frustration, referencing a similar goal conceded in a previous match against Angola. “It’s really disappointing. We talked about these situations, we trained for them, and yet we still conceded a cheap goal. We have to do better.”
With the crucial match against Sudan looming, Otto Addo recognized the immense pressure on his team to secure a victory, emphasizing that nothing less than a win will suffice to keep their qualification hopes alive, and acknowledging the need for significant improvement.
Although faced with challenges, Coach Addo remains optimistic about Ghana’s chances of advancing from Group F.
He emphasized that their qualification fate is still within their control, and they must learn from their errors and enhance their performance in both defense and offense.
With their upcoming crucial match against Sudan, Addo stressed the importance of growth and improvement, stating that it’s more than just a wake-up call.
The Black Stars must win against Sudan to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive.
