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Angola and Ghana do battle in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier – Preview
Angola is on a roll, with a perfect record in Group F and eight straight victories across all competitions. They face Ghana, who are in dire need of a win to keep their hopes alive. Ghana has been struggling, with a 1-0 defeat to Angola, back-to-back stalemates, and a 2-0 defeat to Sudan. They are missing several key players due to injury, including Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, and Thomas Partey.
Despite the challenges, Ghana’s young team is hungry and desperate for their first win in the qualifiers. Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew are expected to provide inspiration, while Osman Bukari, Kingsley Schindler, Ebenezer Annan, and Terry Yegbe come in as a boost to the first-team picture.
Angola, led by Felicio Milson’s clutch goal-scoring, have been solid at both ends of the pitch, with seven clean sheets and 21 goals scored in their last 12 outings. They are one of only five teams still with a perfect record in their AFCON qualifiers.
The pressure is on Ghana to deliver, but Angola’s momentum and home advantage make them favorites to win and a victory for Angola would put them in a commanding position in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Key Stats:
Angola: 12 points in Group F, 8 straight victories, 7 clean sheets, 21 goals scored in last 12 outings
Ghana: 2 points in Group F, 1-0 defeat to Angola, back-to-back stalemates, 2-0 defeat to Sudan
Injuries: Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Ibrahim Osman, Tariq Lamptey, Alexander Djiku, Jonas Adjetey, Salisu Mohammed, Jerome Opoku.
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana will leave nothing on the pitch when they face England in today’s World Cup Group L decider at Gillette Stadium.
With both teams on 3 points, Ayew said his job is to ease pressure on the younger players and hold everyone accountable, himself included.
“I’m doing my best to guide the boys, make them comfortable, take pressure off them, and help us perform,” Ayew told reporters. “I have to perform too. They have to perform too. It’s teamwork. We’re helping each other.”
Ghana come into the Foxborough clash after a 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opener.
The captain’s message was simple, “We’re going to give our 100% and we’re going to fight. I’ll make sure when we come off that pitch, we have no regrets.”
The winner takes control of Group L. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET at Gillette Stadium.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante insists Ghana will carry no pressure into Tuesday’s World Cup showdown with England at Boston Stadium, saying the team’s self-belief and sense of purpose outweigh outside expectations.
Brandon provided a 95th minute assist that helped Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto.
The win left both Ghana and England level on three points in Group L following the Three Lions 4-2 over Croatia in their opening match.
Speaking to ghanafa.org Thomas-Asante is adamant that external doubt only fuels the squad.
“Everything to the best ability, it’s very much a case of we back ourselves, we believe in ourselves. Whether people on the outside doubt us, believe us, or anything that’s not what we think about. We think about why we’re here. We’re on a mission,” Thomas-Asante said.
The Coventry City forward said that mission removes any weight of expectation. “That means there’s no pressure. It’s even less pressure for us,” he explained.
“We know our fans believe, but we know that some people might want to overlook us. We use that to our advantage preparing properly and believing that we can go and do something,” He added.
England and Ghana both sit on three points heading into the Foxborough clash, with the winner set to take control of Group L. Kickoff at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.
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