Ghana’s Black Stars faced yet another disappointing defeat in their final Group F match against Niger, losing 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The result marked the end of a forgettable AFCON 2024 qualifying campaign for Ghana, who finished bottom of their group with just three points from six matches.

In his post-match interview, Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, did not mince words, highlighting the team’s ongoing issues with set-piece defending. “We started okay but conceded a goal from a set piece. We were aware because the last time we met, they scored from a corner. Surely, we have to defend these set pieces better,” he said, visibly frustrated with the recurring problem.

Addo admitted that the team’s defensive lapses on set pieces had been a significant factor throughout the qualifying campaign, contributing to Ghana’s failure to secure a spot in the tournament. “It seems everything is going against us,” he added, acknowledging the difficulties the team has faced in recent months.

However, the coach did find some positives in the performance, particularly from the debutants. “There are some positives, especially from players who hadn’t played before but did well today,” he said, hinting at a glimmer of hope for the future despite the team’s overall underperformance.

Ghana’s early exit from the qualifiers, finishing behind Angola, Sudan, and Niger, is a bitter pill for the nation’s footballing faithful, who had hoped for a stronger showing from their national team.