Black Stars head coach Otto Addo handed debut call-ups to Terry Yegbe, Nathaniel Adjei, and Isaac Afful, while Nations FC defender Razak Simpson retained his spot in the squad after an impressive display against Angola.

However, Otto’s changes reflected in the team’s performance, as they struggled to find cohesion on the pitch. It came as no surprise when Niger took the lead after a series of close shaves.

The opener arrived in the 29th minute, with Sumaila Badamasi towering above Ghana’s defence to head home Alhassane Bonkano’s corner. Just three minutes later, Bonkano dribbled past Isaac Afful to set up Anthony Sosah, but the latter’s effort sailed wide of the goalposts.

Ghana’s first real chance came in the 29th minute when Ernest Nuamah broke free from midfield, but his cross narrowly missed Mohammed Kudus, who arrived a fraction of a second too late.

Two minutes later, Terry Yegbe found the back of the net from Kingsley Schindler’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Nigerien goalkeeper Kassali Djibo.

Five minutes before the interval, Otto Addo made his first substitution, introducing Osman Bukari for Nathaniel Adjei. On the stroke of half-time, Ghana came close again when Schindler’s cross found Ibrahim Sulemana, but his header from close range flew over the bar.

Otto Addo made two more changes at half-time, replacing Isaac Afful and Kingsley Schindler with Ebenezer Annan and Kamaradini Mamudu. The fresh legs added some urgency to Ghana’s play, and the Black Stars nearly equalised when Annan’s cut-back was miscleared, but Osman Bukari’s effort went wide.

As the game progressed, Francis Abu and Ibrahim Sulemana began to assert control in midfield, and Ghana’s dominance almost paid off when Ernest Nuamah’s cut-back was cleared just before Kudus could make contact.

In a bid to break the deadlock, Otto Addo brought on Jerry Afriyie for Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer just before the hour mark. The substitution bore fruit in the 67th minute when Jerry Afriyie stabbed home Nuamah’s cross to equalise.

Amid the celebrations, Otto Addo entered the pitch to embrace Afriyie. Two minutes later, Razak Simpson’s glancing header narrowly missed the crossbar.

Ghana continued to push for a winner, with Kudus coming close in the 83rd minute when his free-kick from 28 yards clipped the post.

In stoppage time, Niger restored their lead as Daniel Sosah rose above the Ghanaian defence to head in the decisive goal. Sosah, an Accra-New Town-born striker, was the toast of Nigerien fans who had turned up to support him and three other Ghanaian-born players in the Nigerien squad.

Moments after the restart, Mohammed Kudus was brought down in the box, earning Ghana a penalty. However, the resultant spot-kick was missed, sparking wild celebrations from the Nigerien supporters and despair among the home fans.

Monday’s result means Ghana finish bottom of Group F with just three points. Niger end the campaign with seven points, while Sudan (eight points) and Angola (14 points) qualify for AFCON 2025.

This marks the first time Ghana have failed to qualify for the tournament since 2004. It is also the first time in the nation’s history that the Black Stars have completed an AFCON qualifying series without a single victory.