“Beating Sudan gave us the belief that we could do it against Ghana” Niger coach Badou Zaki

Niger head coach Badou Zaki has revealed the factors that inspired his team’s 2-1 victory over Ghana in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Monday.

In his post-match comments, Zaki said his side approached the game with heightened confidence, fueled by Ghana’s recent performances and their own dominant 4-0 win against Sudan just days earlier.

“From the last AFCON, we knew the Ghanaian team could score, but they also conceded goals. And our last match against Sudan gave us the belief that we could do it,” Zaki stated.

He also shed light on the significant challenges his players faced, noting that many of them are amateurs who overcame logistical hurdles to represent the team.

“Most of my players are amateurs in Niger. For those playing abroad, they had to travel 18 hours before games and often arrived just a day prior,” Zaki explained.

The coach further highlighted the travel difficulties, mentioning that short flights often took longer than expected. “Our flights sometimes took an hour even from Lomé to Accra. A better travel arrangement would have made a big difference,” he added.

Niger’s victory over Ghana earned them third place in Group F with seven points. Despite the win, their campaign fell short of securing qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.