Ghana four champions out of Afcon 2025 after 1-1 draw with Angola | Football news

The Black Stars needed two wins in their last two qualifying matches and are currently bottom of Group F.

Ghana failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004 after a 1-1 draw with Angola in their qualifier.

The Black Stars needed a win in their group final on Friday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Ghana, who are the four-time Africa Cup champions, have played 24 matches in the tournament. Egypt (26) who are the champions of Egypt (26) and the Ivory Coast (25) who are defending the title are the only ones who have seen others.

Angola, who had already won, got off to a good start in front of the home fans in Talatona. But veteran Ghanaian, Jordan Ayew, opened the scoring for the visitors with a long free kick in the 18th minute.

M’Bala Nzola had a chance to equalize with a penalty only for Ghana goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen to save his ball.

The home side kept pushing though, and Felicio Milson stopped Zini to equalize in the 64th.

Ghana sits at the bottom of Group F with just three points from five matches. They needed two wins from their last two games while their group rivals Sudan (seven points) lost both of their games.

Earlier, Niger showed mercy to the Blacks by beating Sudan 4-0.

Ghana will next play against Niger (four points) on Monday. Niger can move into second place behind Angola (13 points) as long as Angola beat Sudan in their last group game. Niger has a better goal difference than Sudan.

Former Hertha Berlin midfielder Myziane Maolida scored in the last minute as Comoros beat Gambia 2-1. This is the second time this national team from the islands has entered the Africa Cup.

Zambia, Mali, and Zimbabwe also received qualifying matches on Friday, while Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon won on Thursday.

Victor Osimhen’s late goal was enough for Nigeria to advance to a 1-1 draw with Benin.

Morocco, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Algeria, DR Congo, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Angola have already entered before this round of games.

There are still five spots available in this 24-team competition and the qualifiers will continue until Tuesday.