Last roll of the dice: Black Stars rely on Niger-Ghanaian outcasts for survival

The axiom time is a revealer of all things, still holds true.

Among the copious Ghanaian Akan values is one known as “Sankofa,” which literally translates as go ‘back and take it up.’ Playing out before our eyes in one way or another is the Black Stars wanting to go back to their own and ask for a favor.

The Black Stars are in dire need of a solution and a savior in order to avoid the embarrassment of not making it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

As things stand, the team faces a great chance of not qualifying for the tournament. The odds are against them and the odds point to elimination, but amidst all this is a glimmer of hope; a last alternative Ghana would like to exploit.

For a moment, lay aside the comments of Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, who boldly claimed “none of these Niger players were going to make the cut for his team” while berating the Black Stars players ahead of their double-header against Sudan.

A point from their next two games will mean Sudan qualify for the AFCON at the expense of Ghana. How can this inevitable reality not actually happen?

Ghana’s hopes now lie elsewhere after failing to make the most of their chances while they had it within their reach.

The Black Stars lost their first AFCON qualifier 1-0 to Angola before, rather surprisingly, dropping two points against the whipping boys of the group Niger and losing and drawing against Sudan.

A lot is on the line on the day for Ghana. Since Jimmy Gatete broke Ghanaian hearts in the 2003 AFCON qualifiers, there’s arguably not been a darker day on the horizon in Ghana football.

However, three men – Najeeb Yakubu, Daniel Sosah, and Yusif Moussa – who were at the fore to lead Niger in its mass destruction of Ghana, and have Ghanaian heritage, will be needed to supply the goods.

Ghana-Niger bandwagon

Seven years ago, at the U-17 World Cup in India, right-back Najeeb Yakubu tip-toed his way onto the field as a Black Starlets player, representing Ghana at the youth level.

Eric Ayiah, Danlad Ibrahim, and Mohammed Kudus were his then teammates. The dream of the young lads at the time was to come through the ranks and play an integral role for the Black Stars.

Seven years on and only Mohammed Kudus has been able to live out his dream, playing consistently for the Black Stars in a talismanic role.

However, Najeeb Yakubu was agonizingly close to representing the Black Stars in 2021. Ahead of Ghana’s 2021 AFCON qualifier against Sudan, C.K Akonnor, Ghana’s coach at the time, had the young Najeeb shortlisted among the players ready to be called up.

That, however, failed to materialize as his call-up was never forthcoming.

Daniel Sosah, one of Niger’s lethal attacking weapons, is also a Ghanaian. Born to a Ghanaian mother and a Beninois father, he opted to naturalize for Niger rather than wait an eternity for an unrealistic Black Stars call-up.

And, against Ghana in the first game, he took the life out of the Black Stars’ defence with his runs and attacking impetus.

The final expatriate in the current Niger squad who dazzled when Ghana faced Niger was combative midfielder Yusif Moussa. Slightly different, in regards to the aforementioned, Moussa was born and raised in Ghana, Nima, before he was unearthed by Nigerien scouts.

Upon his discovery, he moved to Niger to discover more opportunities, leading to his switch of allegiance to Niger. He has been with the Niger senior side for seven years and is going ever stronger.

In fact, the history of Niger’s football structure has a tinge of Ghana written all over it. The country’s all-time top scorer Victorien Adebayor was a household name in Ghana football between 2018 and 2021, ripping defences into shreds in the Ghana Premier League for Inter Allies and Legon Cities.

With an attacker -Sosa- a defender -Najeeb Yakubu- and a midfielder -Moussa- Ghana will hope Niger come out on top of the tussle with former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah on Thursday in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Notable mentions in the Ghana-Niger link also include Salim Abubakar, who was born in Accra in 2003 and has featured for Niger since 2023.

Kofi Dankwa was another player who was born and raised in Ghana and was a regular fixture for Niger, notably at the 2012 AFCON – and is among Niger’s most capped players. West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) graduate Emmanuel Wonkoyi is also a part of the ever-growing list.

The post Last roll of the dice: Black Stars rely on Niger-Ghanaian outcasts for survival first appeared on 3News.

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