The Black Stars of Ghana were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Niger in their second 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the Stade Municipal de Berkane, after surrendering a slender lead.
Alidu Seidu’s brilliant first-half goal was cancelled out by Oumar Sako's equalizer in the 81st minute, leaving Ghana still without a win in their qualifying campaign.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, the team’s overall performance fell short, raising questions about individual contributions. Here’s how the Black Stars players fared:
Lawrence Ati Zigi - 5: The goalkeeper had a relatively quiet game but was unable to keep out Niger's late equaliser, with the defence leaving him exposed.
Tariq Lamptey - 6: Lamptey was a lively presence on the right, disrupting Niger's counter-attacks and making dangerous runs forward.
Alidu Seidu - 8: Although shaky at the start, Seidu redeemed himself with a fantastic goal and delivered a solid defensive display afterwards.
Mohammed Salisu - 7: Salisu was dependable in defence, winning key duels and playing out from the back, though a few misplaced passes limited his impact.
Abdul Mumin - 5: Mumin looked confident after his error in the last game but struggled to maintain cohesion with his fellow defenders, contributing to the late goal.
Thomas Partey - 6: Partey’s experience was visible, with some brilliant passes and controlled possession, but his tendency to over-elaborate led to lost opportunities.
Majeed Ashimeru - 6: One of Ghana’s better performers in midfield, Ashimeru's ball-carrying ability stood out, though it wasn’t enough to drive the team to victory.
Mohammed Kudus - 6.5: Kudus had a tough time breaking free from Niger’s tight marking but provided the assist for Seidu’s goal with a clever pass.
Fatawu Issahaku - 5: Issahaku failed to make a significant impact, with his usual explosive runs on the wing missing from the game.
Antoine Semenyo - 5.5: Semenyo showed promise with his hold-up play but didn’t offer enough in attack to trouble Niger's defence.
Inaki Williams - 6: Williams worked hard and came close to scoring, but his efforts fell short as he continued to wait for his second international goal.
Brandon Thomas-Asante - 4: Despite showing enthusiasm, Thomas-Asante struggled to influence the match.
Jordan Ayew - 4: Starting from the bench didn’t work in Ayew’s favour, as he failed to make a meaningful contribution in either attack or defence.
Elisha Owusu - 4: Brought on to steady the midfield, Owusu was unable to add the necessary creativity to push Ghana forward when it mattered most.