Nigeria’s Confidence Boost as Ghana Faces Squad Crisis in 2025 AFCON Qualifiers

As the final round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, Nigeria and Ghana find themselves on drastically different paths.

Nigeria’s Steady March to Qualification

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in a comfortable position, needing just a point from their final two qualifiers to secure their spot in Morocco. Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has assembled a 23-man squad and set up camp in Abidjan for their upcoming game against Benin on November 14, followed by a match against Rwanda on November 18.

Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins and New England Revolution’s Alhassan Yusuf have already joined the camp, with team captain William Troost-Ekong confirming his participation by posting on social media as he made his way to Abidjan. With the full squad expected to arrive before Tuesday’s training, Nigeria’s preparations appear to be running smoothly. The team is highly motivated, and with three AFCON titles to their name, they look primed to secure another chance to compete at the continental level.

Ghana’s Uphill Battle Complicated by Withdrawals

In stark contrast, the Black Stars of Ghana are struggling to keep their qualification hopes alive. Sitting at just two points from their first four games, they are in a challenging position with little room for error. Angola’s qualification has complicated matters further, as Ghana needs a perfect performance and favorable results elsewhere to have any hope of making it to AFCON 2025. Sudan, holding seven points in second place, need just two more points to knock Ghana out of the race.

Adding to the Black Stars’ woes, eight players, including star forward Iñaki Williams, have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries or personal issues. Other key players missing include Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, Ibrahim Osman, Jonas Adjetey, Antoine Semenyo, Jerome Opoku, and Joseph Paintsil. The last-minute setbacks have forced head coach Chris Hughton to call up reinforcements, including Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer, Forson Amankwah, Terry Yegbe, Ebenezer Annan, and Kingsley Schindler.

With four AFCON titles in their history, Ghana’s football legacy is strong, but the team’s current struggles put that tradition at risk. Unless they can produce a miracle performance, Ghana faces the possibility of missing out on the tournament entirely.