Niger’s head coach, Badou Zaki, has praised his team for capitalizing on Ghana’s defensive weaknesses in their hard-fought 2-1 victory during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The Mena secured the win over the Black Stars in their final Group F match on Monday afternoon at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving Ghana at the bottom of the group.
In his post-match comments, Zaki explained that his team approached the game with confidence, having studied Ghana’s recent performances in international tournaments.
“From the last AFCON, we knew that the Ghanaian team can score, but they also concede goals,” he remarked. “And our last match against Sudan gave us the confidence that we could do it.”
Niger’s triumph was unexpected, especially considering the significant challenges the team faced, according to Zaki.
“Most of my players are amateurs in Niger. For those outside, they traveled 18 hours before games and often arrived a day before the match,” he explained.
He also highlighted how logistical difficulties affected their preparations, particularly for away matches.
“Our flights often took over an hour, even from Lomé to Accra. If we had a plane that could make these trips in a shorter time, it would have helped a great deal,” Zaki added.
Despite these obstacles, Niger’s victory further compounded Ghana’s struggles, as the Black Stars ended the group stage without a win and finished last in Group F.
This defeat marks Ghana’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.