2025 AFCON Qualifiers: I don't want to blame the pitch for our defeat against Angola - Otto Addo

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has declined to blame the condition of the Baba Yara Stadium for Ghana's defeat to Angola in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

On Thursday, Ghana suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to Angola’s Palancras Negras at the Baba Yara Stadium. The Black Stars struggled to find their rhythm, especially in the first half, with the poor state of the pitch hindering their performance.

After a goalless first half, Felicio Joao Milson's late goal secured the three points for the visitors.

“I don’t want to plant this loss on the pitch even though it wasn’t good. Against Central African Republic, it was also not good but we won. We have to do better,” Addo admitted during his post-match press conference.

Despite the setback, Addo remains hopeful about Ghana’s qualification prospects.

“The second half makes me very confident we can qualify. The good thing is that it’s all in our hands because we still have to face all the teams in the group.”

Ghana will now aim to bounce back in their next Group F match against Niger on Monday, September 9, in Morocco, as they seek to revive their AFCON qualifying campaign.

The defeat leaves the Black Stars in third place in Group F with no points.