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

Niger head coach Badou Zaki credited confidence and resilience as key to his team’s 2-1 victory over Ghana in their final 2025 AFCON qualifier. Zaki said Ghana’s defensive vulnerabilities and Niger's dominant 4-0 win over Sudan earlier boosted their belief.

He highlighted the challenges faced by his mostly amateur squad, including logistical hurdles like lengthy travel times and limited preparation.

Some players, traveling from abroad, often arrived a day before matches. Zaki added that even short flights within the region were often delayed, affecting the team’s readiness.

Despite finishing third in Group F with seven points, Niger failed to qualify for AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Zaki emphasized that better travel arrangements could have significantly enhanced their performance.