Ghana's attempt to recover from their defeat to Angola met another setback in their 1-1 draw against Niger at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane.
Here are five things we learned:
Dominating possession: Ghana controlled 61% of possession, but this did not translate into goals. The team struggled to capitalize on their dominance, a recurring issue from their previous game.
Struggles in attack: Despite 14 shots, Niger matched Ghana's defensive effort with 14 tackles and 2 crucial goalkeeper saves. Ghana's efficiency in front of goal remains a problem, having created only 3 big chances from their dominance.
Accurate passing but little penetration: Ghana completed 402 accurate passes compared to Niger’s 216, yet the West Africans found it tough to break down Niger’s defense, evidenced by only 57 final third entries.
Physical encounter: Ghana committed 16 fouls, reflecting a physical and frustrating match for the Black Stars, as they fought against a resilient Niger side.
Missed cross opportunities: Ghana’s cross accuracy (23%) hindered their ability to find the back of the net more frequently.
With Sudan up next, Ghana must resolve these shortcomings to remain competitive in Group F.