Ghana's Otto Addo admits struggles in draw against Angola

Ghana's head coach, Otto Addo, has openly acknowledged that his team struggled to cope with Angola's relentless pressing in their 1-1 draw on Friday in their penultimate 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The match, held at the 11th November Stadium in Luanda, ultimately confirmed the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the prestigious tournament.

Speaking after the game, Addo admitted that Angola's free-flowing play and intense pressure caused significant problems for Ghana.

"They didn’t have anything to lose today, you could see. They could play freely, while we were a little bit more under pressure," he said, reflecting on the challenge posed by the Palancas Negras.

The match saw Angola apply aggressive pressing, restricting Ghana's ability to establish any rhythm. “They pressed us very well, held us down in our half, and it was difficult for us today.

But we were missing our intensity, and I think it was not good enough from our side,” Addo continued, acknowledging his side’s lack of intensity.

The Black Stars had hoped for a win against Angola, and a subsequent victory over Niger in their final game to keep their qualification hopes alive.

However, following Niger's surprising 4-0 win over Sudan, Ghana’s chances of progression were dashed, leaving the upcoming match against Niger, scheduled for Monday in Accra, without consequence.

This result marks a historic disappointment for Ghana, as they will miss the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 21 years.