Despite acknowledging the poor pitch conditions, Ghana coach Otto Addo believes that the Black Stars’ 1-0 defeat to Angola cannot solely be attributed to the state of the Baba Yara Stadium.
Ghana’s defeat, which halted their 24-year unbeaten streak at the venue, has left the Black Stars in a difficult position at the bottom of Group E in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
In the 93rd minute, Angola’s Milson scored a late goal to secure the victory, capitalizing on Abdul Mumin’s defensive mistake.
Addressing concerns about the pitch, Addo emphasized the necessity for enhancements in every aspect.
“I don’t want to plant this loss on the pitch even though it wasn’t good. It was also not good against the Central African Republic, but we won. We have to do better,” he said.
The Black Stars had previously won a high-scoring match against Central African Republic, 4-3, at the same stadium.
Ghana faced challenges in overcoming Angola’s steadfast defense despite having control of the ball for most of the game.
Ghana, along with Niger, has no points, while Angola and Sudan are leading the group with three points each.
Ghana’s qualification hopes hinge on the upcoming match against Niger, scheduled to take place in Morocco.