Ghana coach reflects on costly shortcomings as Black Stars fail to qualify for Africa’s biggest football tournament.

Ghana’s hopes of featuring in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) came to a heartbreaking end after a 1-1 draw against Angola at the Estádio 11 de Novembro. The result, coupled with earlier struggles, sealed the Black Stars’ fate, leaving them unable to progress from Group F.

Reflecting on the campaign, head coach Otto Addo pointed to Ghana’s inability to capitalize on home advantage as the primary reason for their failure. The Black Stars managed just one point from their home games, a fatal flaw in a qualifying group where away victories are notoriously difficult.

“In tournaments like these, winning your home games is very, very important,” Addo lamented in his post-match interview. “We lost to Angola at home despite being the better team, and those missed opportunities have cost us dearly. Playing away is always challenging because every nation is strong on their own soil.”

The Black Stars entered the Angola clash needing a win to revive their chances, following a lifeline handed by Sudan’s heavy 4-0 loss to Niger. However, their inability to secure maximum points, combined with earlier setbacks, left them at the bottom of Group F with just two points from five matches.

Ghana’s failure to qualify for the AFCON marks a historic low point—it’s the first time in 21 years that the four-time champions will miss the tournament. With their final group match against Niger now a mere formality, questions about the team’s direction and future have begun to loom large.