Coach Otto Addo Makes Two Changes To Starting Line-up For Niger Clash

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has named a strong starting lineup to face Niger in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane.

 

Coach Otto Addo has made two changes to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s Africa Cup of Nations Group F qualifier against Niger in Berkane. Majeed Ashimeru and Inaki Williams have been selected in place of Elisha Owusu and Jordan Ayew.

The backline is unchanged – Tariq Lamptey, Alidu Seidu will play as full backs with Salisu Mohammed and Abdul Mumin set to partner in Central defense.

Captain Thomas Partey will lead the side from the heart of the pitch alongside Majeed Ashimreu and Mohammed Kudus while Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams operate in the front three.

The Black Stars are in search of a win to get their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track after the defeat to Angola on Thursday.

The game is scheduled for 16H00 Hrs. Kick-Off at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on Monday, September 9, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Here’s how Niger line up for today’s match against the Black Stars.

 

 

 

Preview

The Black Stars are looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking loss to Angola on Thursday when they face Niger at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on Monday.

This is a crucial match for Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, and a win would put them back on track.

The team has recently seen a boost with the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku being in good form for their clubs.

Ghana has a tough road ahead, but with a strong squad and determination, the team can get back in contention for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The match against Niger is expected to be highly competitive, and Ghana will be looking to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities. With a superior and more experienced squad, Ghana is tipped to secure all three points, albeit by a narrow margin.

‘’This game, we are surely the favourites and I am very, very confident that we will win this game. But in football anything can happen. We saw it last time against Angola, the way the game looked. I never thought we would lose this game, but in football now there is no weak opponent. So we have to be focused, we have to be concentrated, we have to do our job. Then the probability that we win is very, very high’’ Otto Addo said ahead of the game.

 

Head to Head

A total of 13 games have been played between the two countries with Ghana winning 11, drawing one and losing one.

 

Team News

Coach Otto Addo goes into the game without two players, Joseph Paintsil and Jerome Opoku. Jerome left the team camp on Saturday following a back injury, while Painstil stayed in Accra to sort out his passport issues. In the absence of the two players, Ghana have a fully fit squad that consists of Arsenal star and stand in Captain Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus of West Ham, Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Mohammed Salisu of AS Monaco, Tariq Lamptey of Brighton and Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Inaki Williams who made a cameo appearance on Thursday, is expected to play a key role for the team against Niger. Ghana will be missing the services of Alexander Djiku, Gideon Mensah, Abdul Salis Samed, Ernest Nuamah, Daniel Kofi Kyere, Kamal Deen Sulemana and Ibrahim Sulemana due to injuries.

Ghana’s last away defeat dates back to November 2023 when the team lost 1-0 to Comoros in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Niger were denied a dream start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they fell 1-0 to Sudan in their opening game. Abo Eisa scored the only goal of the match for Sudan to give them a flying start to the campaign. The Nigeriens last Africa Cup of Nations appearance dates back to 2013 when they suffered a first round exit in South Africa. The likes of Abdel Rahim Alhassane, Abdoulaye Boureima Katore, Philippe Boueye, Najeed Yakubu, forward Daniel Sosah, Yusif Moussa, Ousmane Diabate and Youssouf Oumarou are all available for selection.

The game is scheduled for 16H00 Kick-Off at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on Monday, September 9, 2024.

 

 

 

 

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