Ghana's Black Stars continued their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Niger at the Stade Municipal Berkane in Morocco.
Despite taking an early lead, the team’s sluggish performance at a neutral venue cost them crucial points.
The Black Stars opened the scoring in the first half through Alidu Seidu, whose shot deflected off a Niger defender to wrongfoot the goalkeeper. However, with just 10 minutes remaining, Oumar Sako equalized for Niger after a scramble in Ghana's box, leaving the Black Stars with a disappointing result.
Here’s how each Black Stars player performed:
Player Ratings:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi – 5
The St. Gallen shot-stopper made several key saves, particularly in the second half, to keep Ghana in the game. He had little chance to prevent the equalizer.
Tariq Lamptey – 5
After a solid showing against Angola, Lamptey maintained his form with key defensive contributions and overlapping runs, though he was less influential going forward.
Alidu Seidu – 6
Seidu played out of position as a left-back but still managed to score Ghana’s goal. However, his weaker left foot made clearances and crosses difficult.
Abdul Mumin – 4
Mumin showed improvement from his previous match but was still guilty of some errors, including giving the ball away under pressure.
Mohammed Salisu – 5
Salisu was calm and composed in defense, forming a good partnership with Mumin. His control and positioning were solid, though he didn’t stand out.
Thomas Partey – 5
Partey dictated the tempo of the game with his passing and positioning but was guilty of a few errors that affected his overall performance.
Majeed Ashimeru – 4
Ashimeru played deeper than usual, almost as a third center-back at times. He had a decent game but didn’t make much impact going forward.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – 2
A poor showing from the young forward, who struggled to beat defenders and had little influence on the game. He should have been substituted earlier.
Mohammed Kudus – 5
Kudus was Ghana’s most dangerous player, driving through the middle with purpose. However, he often held onto the ball too long and missed opportunities for quicker decisions.
Antoine Semenyo – 5
Semenyo was less effective compared to his previous outing. He struggled to get involved in the final third and rarely troubled Niger’s defense.
Inaki Williams – 4
Williams had a quiet game, winning a few fouls but failing to make an impact as the central striker. His presence in the box was lacking.
Substitutes:
Elisha Owusu – N/A
Brandon Thomas-Asante – N/A
Jordan Ayew – N/A
Coach Otto Addo – 2
While Ghana showed improved passing and control compared to earlier matches, Addo’s late substitutions reduced their potential impact. His tactics lacked urgency, leaving the team vulnerable to the late equalizer.
Despite Seidu’s early goal, the Black Stars will see this as two points dropped in a crucial qualifying campaign. Ghana must regroup quickly as they face tougher challenges ahead in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
