AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2025 qualifying is sort of over, with the 24 groups set to compete within the continental event subsequent season almost confirmed.
Set to be hosted by Morocco between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026, AFCON 2025 guarantees to supply a lot extra motion and drama throughout the month-long event.
However whereas nearly all of Africa’s large hitters have all qualifed for AFCON 2025, with the likes of Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast making their manner by means of qualifying pretty comfortably, there will be one four-time winner not competing subsequent yr.
AFCON stalwarts Ghana fail to qualify for 2025 event
After managing simply three factors after 5 video games, in a gaggle containing Niger, Angola and Sudan, Ghana have already been eradicated from AFCON 2025. They did not win any of these 5 video games, presenting a serious shock when contemplating that sides similar to Equatorial Guinea, Uganda and Comoros have all qualifed.
Winners of the 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 tournaments, Ghana have not loved fairly the identical success lately, ending as runners-up in 2015 and reaching the semi-finals for six straight tournaments between 2008 and 2017.
They did fail to flee the AFCON group phases on the final two events, although they’ve nonetheless received a robust facet able to heading to Morocco.
With former Hamburg supervisor and Borussia Dortmund assistant coach Otto Addo accountable for the nationwide staff, and Premier League high quality in Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo all a part of the facet, not qualifying is a disastrous marketing campaign for the Black Stars.
Their remaining group recreation towards Niger on Monday, hosted in Ghana’s capital metropolis, Accra, presents the facet with a possibility to easily not end backside of their qualifying group. Niger can nonetheless attain the event, nevertheless, highlighting how aggressive the sport guarantees to be.
A 1-1 draw with Angola sealed Ghana’s destiny on Friday, regardless of Jordan Ayew scoring an unimaginable free-kick from over 30 yards out.