The Black Stars are in dire need of a win after losing to Angola and drawing with Niger in their opening matches in the qualification series, while Sudan are seeking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss in their last match.
The Black Stars lost an enviable 24-year unbeaten streak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in September following a 1-0 defeat to Angola and followed it up with a 1-1 draw with Niger.
Stade Rennes defender Alidu Seidu gave Ghana the lead just before half-time, but the Stars failed to extend their advantage despite dominating the game, which ultimately proved costly as Niger equalised through Oumar Sako in the 81st minute.
Otto Addo’s side are third in Group F with one point making the two games against Sudan very crucial. Ghana are looking for their 11th straight appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations having featured in each of the last 10 editions since missing out in 2004. Despite the absence of Thomas Partey, Joseph Painstil, Kingsley Schindler and Ibrahim Osman, the likes of Jordan Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Tariq Lamptey amongst others, look very confident heading into Thursday’s clash.
Ghana are unbeaten at home against Sudan, after recording four wins and a draw in five games – with the most recent victory coming at the Cape Coast Stadium in November 2020 when Andre Ayew scored twice to give the Black Stars a 2-0 win.
Sudan began the qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Niger before losing 2-1 against Angola in their second match. The defeat ended their four-match unbeaten run in competitive matches, a run that included victories over the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, and South Sudan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This leaves Kwesi Appiah’s side second in group F with three points, two points ahead of Ghana and 3 points behind leaders Angola.
Sudan had won two straight matches on the road – against South Sudan and Mauritania in the World Cup qualifiers – prior to the defeat against Angola.
‘’They are very good. They are leading in their group, so it’s not that we should underrate them. They are leading the World Cup group with Senegal and Togo and DR Congo in the group, so it’s not like it’s a cheap team. And all the statistics you’re bringing up from the past, to me, is really irrelevant. Irrelevant, because the times have changed. And you see it everywhere that the so-called small countries, they can beat the so-called bigger countries. So to compare these times maybe when I was playing and now, it’s not fair. And for me, like I said, it’s also irrelevant because we have to look forward, we have to look and see what we can do to win this game, and that’s all’’ Otto Addo at a pre-match press conference in Accra.
Ghana’s last competitive game at the Accra Sports Stadium dates back to March 2021 when we recorded a 3-1 win over Sao Tome and Principe in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Nicholas Opoku, Jordan Ayew and Baba Abdul Rahman scored to give the Black Stars victory.
The 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifier is scheduled for 4pm Kick-Off the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Match Facts:
Ghana vs. Sudan (Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier)
Kick off Time: 16:00Hrs
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
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