Black Stars coach Otto Addo disappointed with Niger draw, eyes crucial win against Sudan
Ghana's head coach, Otto Addo, expressed his disappointment following a 1-1 draw with Niger in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Monday in Berkane, Morocco.
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The result leaves the Black Stars third in Group F with only one point from two matches, behind leaders Angola and Sudan.
In a candid post-match press conference, Addo did not hold back, admitting his dissatisfaction with the team's performance and missed opportunities.
"I am not satisfied at all," he said. "We had the game under control, but the way we defended in the last 10 minutes was really bad. We trained for these set-piece situations, yet we conceded a disappointing goal."
Addo highlighted Ghana's struggles in capitalizing on chances, particularly in the second half. Despite making tactical adjustments, the team failed to convert their opportunities into goals.
"We controlled the game and created a lot of chances in the second half, but we didn’t take them. These games are tough, and Niger capitalized on their counter-attacks," he added.
Reflecting on the defensive lapses, Addo voiced his frustration, referencing a similar goal conceded in a previous match against Angola. "It’s really disappointing. We talked about these situations, we trained for them, and yet we still conceded a cheap goal. We have to do better."
Looking ahead to Ghana's upcoming match against Sudan, Addo acknowledged the pressure on his team to deliver. "It’s a crucial match, and we have to win. There’s no other option if we want to keep our chances alive. We are under pressure, but we must improve."
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Despite the setbacks, the coach remains hopeful that Ghana can still qualify from Group F. "It’s still in our hands. We are level with Niger, and we’ll have to wait for the outcome of the Angola-Sudan game. But we must learn from our mistakes and improve in both defence and attack."
Ghana's next fixture against Sudan could determine their AFCON qualification fate, and Addo is clear on the task ahead: "We need to grow from this. This is more than a wake-up call."
The Black Stars will face Sudan in a must-win encounter as they aim to secure their spot in the prestigious tournament.