Ghana head coach Otto Addo - Ghana FA.
Ghana head coach Otto Addo has admitted that the penultimate 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture against Angola will be very tough.
The four time African champions are in Luanda for the tricky duel against the Palancas Negras who sit top of Group F with 12 points and have already qualified for the continental football tournament.
The Black Stars were given a qualification lifeline following Sudan’s 4-0 loss to Niger in Togo on Thursday. Otto Addo’s men need to record two wins and continue to hope that Sudan will slip again against Angola in the final qualifier.
Otto Addo said: “Yeah, these are difficult games. You can't take it for granted that they will play, let's say, 50 per cent or so. I know that they (Angola) will be 100 per cent ready. It's going to be difficult, it's an away game. It’s going to be very, very tight, I know.
“But I think mentally the boys are ready. I'm looking forward to that game. It's time for our first victory in this competition. I think it's a great opportunity to keep the chance alive.”
The German trained coach urged all and sundry to rally behind the Black Stars to help boost their qualifying chances. “I ask for your support. When players feel at home, they'll give their best. But in a toxic environment, it’s difficult for them. They’re human, and we must support them. We all want Ghana to win and succeed,” he said.
“Our technical staff will try to make them feel at home, to make them feel good and also talk about the negative and positive moments in our previous games. Because there were lots of positives from the matches we have played and we created lots of chances and now, we have to work on them to be able to score.”
The West African nation sat on a thin thread prior to Niger hosting Sudan as a win or draw for the second placed side would see Ghana miss out of the tournament for the first time in 20 years.
A win in Luanda will see the Black Stars move into third on five points - two behind Sudan and seven adrift of the already qualified Angola and one above Niger. The last round of qualifying games are set for Tuesday and will determine the last batch of qualified nations.
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