Former Ghanaian international William Tiero has voiced his disappointment after the Black Stars conceded a late goal in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Niger.
The match, held on Monday, saw Ghana held to a 1-1 draw, a result that leaves them with just one point from two games in Group F.After suffering a 1-0 defeat to Angola in their opening match at the Baba Yara Stadium, Ghana was eager to bounce back.
Stade Rennais defender Alidu Seidu gave the Black Stars a first-half lead, but Niger equalized in the 80th minute when Oumar Sako capitalized on a defensive lapse, slotting in a loose ball from a corner.In an interview with Ghanasportspage.com, Tiero lamented the team’s defensive organization, particularly in the way they conceded the equalizing goal.
“There are three outcomes in football—win, lose, or draw—but nothing has been lost yet. We’ve only played two games, and while the results aren’t what we hoped for, we shouldn’t lose hope,” Tiero stated.
“However, when you look at the game against Niger, we made small mistakes. The Nigeriens were clever; they capitalized on those errors, especially by exploiting our defensive gaps on the counter.”Tiero further criticized the team’s poor handling of set pieces, which he believes contributed to the avoidable goal.
“Nothing pains me more than the goal we conceded. It was an avoidable goal. When you concede a corner, players must take their positions properly. You should have one man at the 16-yard box and another covering behind.
The way we conceded shows that these scenarios are not practiced enough at the training ground. If we had, they would have taken up the right positions right away.
“The Black Stars will now turn their focus to an October doubleheader against Sudan, coached by former Ghana boss Kwesi Appiah, in their bid to revive their qualification campaign.
