Niger coach Ezzaki Badou has expressed confidence about his side’s chances against Ghana by labelling the Black Stars as “not the same of five or six years ago”.

Ghana will face Niger in their second fixture in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

Otto Addo’s side have struggled to impress having been booted out of the Afcon group stages in the last two editions and failed to reach the semi-finals since 2017.

According to Badou, the recent disappointing performances have emboldened Niger ahead of the fixture.

“We are in an affordable group. We have every chance of qualifying,” the trainer told CAF media. “For me, Ghana is a football country with a selection with great professionals. But it is not the team of 5 or 6 years ago. Even at home, they can lose.”

“Angola showed a good face during the last CAN and beautiful football, modern, fast football. It is a selection that has shaken up the big teams in Côte d'Ivoire. I know Sudan very well. They are first in their qualifying group for the World Cup. They will be dangerous, but we know our strengths and we know that we can go far.”

The top two finishers of the group will book a slot at the Afcon set to be staged in Morocco.