In a thrilling twist to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Niger’s emphatic 4-0 win over Sudan has breathed new life into the qualification hopes of the Black Stars. Ghana, who has struggled in recent games, now finds itself with a glimmer of hope, though their journey remains fraught with challenges.

With no wins in four matches, Ghana is teetering on the edge of elimination, facing the daunting prospect of missing out on AFCON for the first time since 2004. To qualify, they must now win their remaining matches against Angola and Niger, while hoping that Sudan falters in their final game.

The decisive victory by Niger in Togo, led by a brace from forward Daniel Sosah—who notably has Ghanaian heritage—alongside goals from Ousseini Badamassi and Youssef Oumarou, has thrown the group standings wide open. Sudan, Niger, and Ghana all find themselves vying for the group’s coveted second qualifying spot behind Angola, who have already secured their place.

Sudan, however, still holds an advantage. A draw in their upcoming clash with Angola will guarantee their place in the tournament, leaving Ghana’s fate in the hands of both their own performance and Angola’s. Meanwhile, Niger must defeat Ghana in their final game to remain in contention and also hope for a Sudan loss.

Ghana’s path forward is clear yet steep: they must defeat Angola on Friday, triumph over Niger, and rely on Angola to beat Sudan. Despite the seemingly long odds, Black Stars coach Otto Addo remains resolute, leading his players in a last-ditch battle for qualification.

As the group stands on a knife-edge, Ghanaians hold their breath, hoping for a series of results that could keep their AFCON dreams alive.