2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Jerry Afriyie scores on Ghana debut against Niger

Promising young striker Jerry Afriyie made an unforgettable debut for the Black Stars, scoring a stunning goal, but Ghana ultimately suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Niger in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

The Thought FC forward came off the bench to deliver a spectacular equalizer at the Accra Sports Stadium, momentarily reviving Ghana's hopes after Niger took the lead.

However, a missed penalty by Mohammed Kudus late in the game left Ghana vulnerable, and Niger capitalized with a stoppage-time winner to seal the Black Stars' fate.

Afriyie’s goal was a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Ghana. The teenager’s performance underscored his potential and justified his late call-up to the squad.

His debut capped an outstanding year, which included winning the Golden Boot at the WAFU B Championship and claiming gold with Ghana's U-20 team at the African Games in March.

Despite Afriyie’s emergence as a promising talent, the defeat marked the end of a dismal qualifying run for Ghana, who managed just three goals in six games and finished at the bottom of Group F.

This failure means Ghana will miss the AFCON tournament for the first time in 21 years, a significant blow to a nation with a rich footballing history.