Otto Addo Explains Why Ghana Failed to Qualify for AFCON 2025

• Former African champions, Ghana, will not be at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year
• The Black Stars failed to qualify for the tournament after a 1-1 draw with Angola in Luanda on Friday
• The Black Stars will host Niger in the final game of the qualifiers on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium

Ghana head coach Otto Addo has opened up about the Black Stars’ disappointing exit from the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, marking the team’s first failure to qualify for the continental showpiece in two decades.

The four-time Africa Cup of Nations champions saw their 2025 qualification hopes dashed after a 1-1 draw with Angola on Friday night.

Needing a win to keep their chances alive in Group F, the Black Stars fell short, failing to extend their campaign to the final round of qualifiers.

Jordan Ayew’s brilliant free-kick gave Ghana the lead, but it was soon nullified by a strike from AEK Athens forward Zine, leaving the West African giants unable to secure the vital victory.

Read also

Jordan Ayew among 4 top Ghana players to miss Niger clash

Why Ghana failed to qualify for 2025 AFCON

In a post-match interview, Addo attributed the team’s struggles to their inability to capitalise on home advantage.

“In tournaments like these, winning your home games is crucial. We lost to Angola at home despite being the better side, and that cost us. Playing away is always challenging because every nation is strong on their turf,” he explained via 3News.

Addo also acknowledged the pressure on his team against Angola and commended their opponents for a resilient performance.

What's next for Ghana's Black Stars

The Black Stars will face Niger in their final qualifier on November 15, but the match holds no competitive significance as Ghana’s hopes of reaching Morocco next year are over.

As the team reflects on this setback, Addo emphasised the importance of analysing their shortcomings to rebuild for future competitions.

The failure has left fans disappointed and prompted calls for a reassessment of the team’s strategy and coaching structure ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Read also

"We were not good enough": Otto Addo on Angola defeat

The pressure is now on Addo and his staff to guide Ghana back to its former glory.

According to ESPN, this marks a historic low for Ghana, as they fail to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 20 years.

Ayew scores a beautiful freekick

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew had given Ghana the lead in their penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola after scoring a fine freekick to open the scoring.

The Black Stars, who desperately need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive, responded to the pressure early in the game after the captain bent in a fabulous freekick after just 16 minutes.

The Angolans, largely missing in the early exchanges, were immediately awoken from their slumber as they began to put some pressure on the Black Stars team.

Source: YEN.com.gh