At the Accra Sports Stadium, heartbreak echoed through the stands as Ghana’s Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niger in the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Both of Niger’s goals came from corner kicks, exposing a glaring weakness in Ghana’s defense—a concern head coach Otto Addo openly acknowledged.

“We were aware of their strength in set pieces because they scored against us in a similar fashion the last time we played,” Addo remarked during the post-match press conference. “Yet, we failed to defend them properly. It’s a recurring issue that cost us dearly.”

The match began with promise for Ghana, but a lapse in concentration at crucial moments allowed Niger to capitalize, leaving the Black Stars chasing the game. Despite their efforts, a late response from Ghana was not enough to secure the result needed to book their place at the continental showpiece.

This marks the first time since 2004 that the four-time African champions will miss the AFCON tournament, a bitter pill for both players and fans to swallow. With critics calling for an overhaul in the team’s defensive strategies, Addo admitted the team must regroup and refocus. “It feels like everything is going against us, but we must learn from this and prepare for the challenges ahead.”

As the dust settles, Ghana now turns its sights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, hoping to reignite the passion of their supporters and restore their pride on the global stage.