Sports Mole previews Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Niger and Ghana, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Niger and Ghana will be looking to secure their first win in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they meet at the Stade Municipal de Berkane on Monday.
The Black Stars began their bid for a place in Morocco with a surprise home defeat to Angola last Thursday, a day after Zaki BandouHis men were beaten by Sudan in the first group.
Match preview
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Niger were denied a dream start to their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sudan when the two nations clashed in their Group F opener on Wednesday.
In a cagey affair at Juba Stadium, former Bradford City midfielder Abo Eisa scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute to give the Falcons of Jediane a deserved win on day one.
Niger, who are 125th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, have now lost eight of their last nine competitive matches, a run that has seen them finish third in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
While Badou’s side will be looking to find their feet and start their qualifying journey, next up is the challenge of an opposition team that is unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 meetings, winning 11 and drawing one since February of 1969.
Niger’s last AFCON appearance came in South Africa in 2013 when they crashed out of the group stage after picking up one point from a possible nine in Group B to finish bottom of the table.
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Elsewhere, Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten run at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi came to an end on Thursday when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Central African rivals Angola.
The Ghanaian was guilty of a lack of bite at the attacking end of the pitch as a Red Star Belgrade striker Milson struck in the third minute of stoppage time to give the Black Sable Antelopes a famous victory.
Before that, Ghana were unbeaten in four consecutive competitive matches, including back-to-back wins over Mali and Central African Republic in World Cup qualifiers, where they have collected nine points from four games to sit second in Group I, tied in degrees with the first. -placed Comoros.
Having featured in each of the last 10 AFCON editions since missing the game in 2004, the head coach Otto Addo will be hoping his side can bounce back from Thursday’s disappointments as they look to kick-start their bid for a place in Morocco.
Ghana go into Monday’s clash unbeaten in five of their last six competitive away games – winning four and drawing one – with a 1-0 loss to Comoros in November 2023 being the exception.
Niger Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:
Niger Kit (all competitions):
Ghana Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier Form:
Ghana kit (all competitions):
Team news
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Despite the defeat to Sudan, we expect C to field an unchanged starting line-up on Monday, with Abdel Rahim Alhassane, Abdoulaye Boureima Katore, Philippe Boueye and Najeeb Yakubu forming the tetrad again.
Daniel Sosah has scored four goals in 19 senior appearances since his debut in October 2021 and should lead Niger’s attack once again, while Yusif Moussa, Ousmane Diabate and master Yusuf Umaru they should retain their roles in the center of the park.
As for Ghana, we could expect the top four of the Premier League Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Muhammad Qudous, Antoine Semeneu and Jordan Ayu to lead the charge once again.
Captain Thomas Partey has started each of Arsenal’s opening three games this season and the 31-year-old should retain his role in the heart of the park for the Black Stars, along Elisha Owusuwhich debuted in March 2022
Alidu Seidu, Mohamed Salisu, Abdul Mumin and the Brighton and Hove Albion man Tariq Lambtei they should form the back four once more, shielding Lawrence Atty between the spades.
Niger’s probable starting line-up:
Hainikoye? Alhassane, Katore, Boueye, Yakubu; Oumarou, Moussa, Diabate; Abraham, Sosa, Gumey
Ghana’s probable starting line-up:
Ati? Seidu, Salisu, Mumin, Lamptey? Partey, Owusu; Issahaku, Kudus, Semenyo; Aye
We say: Niger 1-2 Ghana
Looking to restore some pride after their defeat on the opening day, we expect Niger and Ghana to go all out on Monday and that makes for an exciting match at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.
On paper, the Black Stars boast a superior and more experienced squad and we tip them to secure all three points, albeit by a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match, click here.
