Reeling from their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying heartbreak, a disconsolate Ghana side draw the curtains in Group F when they play host to Niger on Monday.
While the home side's fate has already been sealed, the Mena journey to the Accra Sports Stadium in need of all three points as well as favourable results in the other group fixture as they make one last push for a place in Morocco.
Match preview
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It was a heartbreaking end to Ghana's dreams of reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Angola when the two sides squared off at the Estadio 11 de Novembro on Friday.
Leicester City man Jordan Ayew gave Ghana a dream start to the contest as he scored a long-range free kick to hand them a first-half lead but Angola hit back in the 64th minute through Zini for a share of the spoils to dash the hearts of the two-time African champions.
The stalemate with Angola leaves Otto Addo's men without a win in their five matches in Group F, losing twice and claiming three draws as they sit rock-bottom in the standings, four points adrift of second-placed Sudan.
This will mark the first time that the Black Stars will miss the Africa Cup of Nations in the last two decades, snapping a run stretching back to 2004, when they failed to secure a place in Tunisia.
Ghana's mediocre qualifying campaign has been in no small part owing to issues at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have netted just two goals so far, despite their stacked and talented squad.
Niger, on the other hand, picked up three huge points in their late push for a spot in Morocco as they thrashed Sudan 4-0 when they secured off at the Stade de Kegue on Thursday.
With elimination staring them in the face, goals from Youssouf Oumarou, Ousseni Badamassi and a first-half brace from Kryvbas forward Daniel Sosah inspired the Mena to a comfortable victory as they kept their slim qualification hopes alive.
Niger had failed to win any of their previous four games in Group F, claiming one draw and losing three, including back-to-back defeats at the hands of Angola in October's double-header.
Zaki Badou's men, who are 131st in the latest FIFA World Rankings, have picked up four points from a possible 15 to sit third in the Group F standings, three points behind second-placed Sudan, albeit with a stronger goal difference (+2).
However, Niger are faced with the daunting challenge of taking on Ghana who are unbeaten in 13 of the last 15 meetings between the two nations, claiming 11 wins and two draws since February 1969.
Team News
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Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was forced off injured at half time against Angola on Thursday and the 20-year-old forward is set to return to club side Leicester City on Sunday.
Fellow Leicester attacker Ayew picked up a knee problem in the aforementioned game while Gideon Mensah and Alidu Seidu have been ruled out due to fitness issues.
Off the back of a dominant victory against Sudan, Badou could name a similar Niger XI this weekend, with 26-year-old Sosah spearheading the attack once again.
He should be joined in the final third by Kairou Amoustapha and Boubacar Hainikoye, while we could see Badamassi Oumaroun and Sheriff Tiraspol man Ali Mohamed in midfield for a second consecutive game.
We expect Abdoul Garba, Abdoulaye Boureima Katkore, Oumar Sako, Abdel Rahim Alhassane to retain their roles at the defensive end of the pitch, with Mahamadou Djibo starting in goal once again.
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Nurudeen; Mensah, Simpson, Seidu, Schindler; Sulemana, Owusu, Baidoo; Annan, Konigsdorffer, Naumah
Niger possible starting lineup:
Djibo; Garba, Katkore, Sako, Alhassane; Oumarou, Badamassi, Mohamed; Hainikoye, Sosah, Amoustapha
We say: Ghana 2-0 Niger
While it has been a forgettable qualifying journey for Ghana, they will look to close out the campaign on a strong note and avoid failing to win any of their six matches in Group F.
The stakes are high for Niger and while we expect them to go all out at the Accra Sports Stadium, we predict that the Black Stars will come away with all three points in front of the home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
