- Ghana’s late defensive lapses led to a 1-1 draw with Niger
- Otto Addo criticized his team for missing key chances
- The Black Stars, now third in Group F, need to enhance their performance
Ghana’s head coach Otto Addo openly expressed his dissatisfaction after the Black Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Niger in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers on Monday.
Following the match, Addo voiced his disappointment with his team’s inability to convert their opportunities and their defensive shortcomings.
“To be honest, I am not satisfied at all. I am very disappointed,” Addo admitted.
The senior national team once again conceded a late goal, placing their hopes of qualifying for a record 11th consecutive AFCON tournament in a precarious position.
Addo revealed that despite their efforts to improve their defensive strategies, including training on set pieces, poor defending undermined their performance.
“We discussed and practiced set pieces, but the defense in the last 10 minutes was unacceptable,” he stated.
He acknowledged that while Ghana generally controlled the game and created several chances, their inability to convert these opportunities proved costly.
“In the second half, we made tactical adjustments and changed our setup to better utilize our wingers and midfield,” Addo explained. “Although we controlled the game and had numerous chances, we failed to capitalize on them. These types of games can be very challenging, and Niger took advantage of their counterattacks.”
With Ghana now positioned third in Group F, Addo stressed the need for improvement as they prepare for a crucial match against Sudan to keep their qualification hopes alive.
