The Black Stars of Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw in their second Group F match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Niger at the Stade Municipal de Berkane on Monday afternoon.
Ghana, under coach Otto Addo, was aiming for a crucial victory after suffering a 1-0 defeat in their opening match against Angola. The team made key changes, with Inaki Williams and Majeed Ashimeru introduced to the starting lineup.
The Black Stars started the match strongly, with Williams coming close to scoring early on. Despite their promising start, they struggled to create clear chances until the 44th minute, when Alidu Seidu’s deflected shot found the back of the net, giving Ghana a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was called into action early in the match, making a critical save to deny a long-range effort from Niger in the 16th minute. Mohammed Kudus also had a chance to score, but his effort was blocked.
After the break, Niger came out with renewed energy, putting pressure on Ghana’s defense.
Despite the Black Stars’ struggles in buildup play, they remained composed. Kudus had another chance to extend the lead after a clever pass from Inaki Williams, but Niger’s goalkeeper made a vital stop. Williams himself nearly scored minutes later, but his shot was also saved.
Niger’s persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Oumar Sako equalized after a scramble in the Ghanaian box. The Mena held on for the remainder of the match to secure a point.
The draw leaves Ghana with just one point from their opening two matches, placing them third in Group F of the AFCON qualifiers.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to their upcoming doubleheader against Sudan in October, as they seek to revive their qualifying campaign.
