Ghana is set to face Sudan in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match today at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off slated for 16:00 GMT.
The Black Stars, who have had a shaky start to their qualifying campaign, are eager to secure their first win. Meanwhile, Sudan will be determined to bounce back after a recent defeat.
Match Overview
Ghana’s journey in the qualifiers began with disappointment, as they suffered a rare 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, ending their 24-year unbeaten home run in Kumasi. Their struggles continued in the second match, where despite taking the lead through a well-placed Alidu Seidu strike, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Niger, with Oumar Sako equalizing late in the game.
The Black Stars currently sit third in Group F with just one point from two games, making today’s encounter against Sudan a must-win to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive. A failure to clinch three points would put immense pressure on the team, with only two matches remaining in the group stage after this round.
Ghana, however, will draw confidence from their strong record against Sudan. In five previous meetings, the Black Stars have never lost, winning four and drawing one.
On the other side, Sudan kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Niger but faced a setback in their second match, losing 2-1 to Angola, which halted their four-game unbeaten run in competitive matches. That streak had included impressive performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Sudan, currently second in the group with three points, will be eager to continue their momentum under the guidance of coach Kwesi Appiah, a former Ghana national team coach. Appiah will be looking to engineer a positive result in familiar territory as he takes on his former side.
Sudan’s away form has been commendable, with back-to-back wins in World Cup qualifiers on foreign soil before their Angola defeat. They’ll be aiming to replicate their resilient performance from the 2010 AFCON qualifiers, where they held Ghana to a 0-0 draw on Ghanaian soil.
Form Guide
Ghana AFCON Qualifying Form: L D
Ghana Overall Form: L D W W L D
Sudan AFCON Qualifying Form: W L
Sudan Overall Form: W L W W W L
Team News
Ghana will be missing several key players for their upcoming AFCON qualifier against Sudan due to injuries, including Thomas Partey, Joseph Paintsil, Kingsley Schindler, and Osman Ibrahim. In response, coach Otto Addo has called up replacements such as Abu Francis, Jonas Adjei Adjetey, Michael Baidoo, and Ibrahim Sadick to fill the gaps.
Despite these absences, Ghana’s attacking line-up will feature Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, and Abdul Fatawu, who are expected to spearhead the offensive efforts. With Partey unavailable, coach Addo has confirmed that Kudus will take over as captain for the crucial tie.
On the Sudanese side, former Al Hilal player Eid Moghaddam and goalkeeper Ahmed Peter have rejoined the squad, adding strength to their lineup. Abo Eisa and Mustafa Karshom, both of whom have scored in the qualifiers, will be key players, while striker Mohamed Abdelrahman will be eager to get on the scoresheet against Ghana.
Comments from both coaches have highlighted the stakes of the match. Ghana coach Otto Addo emphasized the importance of playing with passion and maintaining defensive discipline:
“There are many things to consider. We need to show passion and focus on defensive discipline to ensure we’re ready for anything. I’m addressing the issues we’ve had, especially in defense, so we don’t keep conceding goals. I’m pleased with the players’ performance, and hopefully, we won’t repeat the same mistakes,” Addo remarked.
Sudan’s assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu expressed his determination to secure qualification for his team but noted the challenge of facing Ghana.
“Kwesi Appiah has nothing left to prove; his coaching record speaks for itself. As for me, most people don’t even realize I’m Sudan’s assistant coach. Our goal is simple—we want to qualify. It’s unfortunate we have to go up against Ghana at this stage. I wish this match could have been avoided,” Osei-Fosu said.
Ghana and Sudan are set for an intense battle, with both teams aiming to take a step closer to AFCON 2025 qualification.
The Black Stars are expected to edge Sudan in a close match, with home advantage playing a key role.
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