Ghana’s senior men’s national team faces a somber regroup ahead of final, now-meaningless qualifier against Niger.

The Black Stars returned to Accra on Saturday morning following a 1-1 draw against Angola on Friday night in their penultimate match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Touching down at Kotoka International Airport at 9:45 AM, the team arrived to a subdued atmosphere as the result confirmed their elimination from the tournament.

Under head coach Otto Addo, the Black Stars had needed a win in Angola to keep their qualification hopes alive. The draw at the Estádio 11 de Novembro left Ghana stranded at the bottom of Group F with just three points from five matches.

The team’s chances had briefly flickered following Niger’s surprise 4-0 thrashing of Sudan, which provided a slim lifeline. However, the draw in Angola dashed any remaining hope, rendering Monday’s final game against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium meaningless.

Ghana sits fourth in Group F, trailing leaders Angola by ten points, five behind second-placed Sudan, and one below Niger in third. This marks the first time in 21 years that the Black Stars will miss the Africa Cup of Nations, a bitter disappointment for a nation with a proud footballing tradition.

The team will now regroup to face Niger, with questions already swirling around the future of Otto Addo and the direction of the Black Stars program.