Ghana will host Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, aiming to kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a victory.
The two teams previously met during the last AFCON qualifiers, where Ghana secured a 1-0 home win and a 1-1 draw in the return leg.
Match Preview
Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has seen a promising start in his second stint, with two wins and a draw in four matches despite an initial defeat to Nigeria.
Recent results include a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mali and a 4-3 win against the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The latter match featured a hat-trick from Jordan Ayew and a goal from Abdul Fatawu.
The Black Stars are determined to build on this momentum after a disappointing group-stage exit in the recent AFCON, which led to the dismissal of former coach Chris Hughton. Now, they are seeking to achieve three consecutive wins across all competitions for the first time since July-August 2022. Ghana holds an unbeaten record against Angola in four previous meetings, with two wins and two draws.
Angola, under coach Pedro Goncalves, comes into this fixture with confidence after winning the COSAFA Cup in July, their fourth title in the competition.
The Palancas Negras went undefeated throughout the tournament, culminating in a 5-0 victory over Namibia in the final, with Victor Pedro Nanque scoring twice. Angola aims to secure their 10th AFCON appearance, having reached the quarterfinals in the last edition before losing to Nigeria.
Team News
For Ghana, LA Galaxy winger Joseph Paintsil, Turkey-based Kingsley Schindler, Anderlecht’s Majeed Ashimeru, and Athletic Bilbao’s forward Inaki Williams have returned to the squad after missing the June World Cup qualifiers. Leicester City’s Jordan Ayew, who has scored in the last five games, is expected to lead the attack, supported by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.
Angola is likely to field a formidable attack featuring Mabululu and Gelson Dala, who were standout performers at the last AFCON. Kialonda Gaspar will anchor the defense alongside David Carmo.
Predicted Lineups
Ghana Starting XI:
Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Mumin, Salisu, Mensah; Ashimeru, Partey; Fatawu, Kudus, Semenyo; J.Ayew
Angola Starting XI:
Neblu; Mata, Gaspar, Carmo, Cruz; Fredy, Show, Nteka; Milson, Mabululu, Dala
Ghana will look to capitalize on their home advantage to secure a crucial win as they embark on their journey to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
The game is set to kick off at 16:00GMT kick-off [4:00pm local time]
Live Telecast TV channel : Max TV
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