Ghana vs. Sudan: AFCON Qualifiers Preview and Predictions

Ghana is hosting Sudan in a crucial 2025 AFCON qualifying match, aiming to recover from a poor start in the campaign. The Black Stars are winless so far, while Sudan seeks to bounce back from a recent defeat. Both teams have strong motivations and an intriguing history in their matchups, with Ghana favored to win.

Ghana is set to host Sudan on Thursday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium for a qualifying match leading up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Black Stars have not yet secured a victory in the current qualifying campaign, while Sudan aims to recover after a defeat in their last encounter. The Black Stars have encountered setbacks in this qualifying round, commencing with an end to their 24-year unbeaten streak at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Sports Stadium following a 1-0 loss to Angola. This disappointing performance was followed by a 1-1 draw against Niger, where Ghana was unable to capitalize on a lead given by Alidu Seidu, allowing Niger to equalize late in the match. Currently, Otto Addo’s squad sits with just one point, placing them third in Group F. Facing Sudan is critical for their qualification aspirations, as only two matches will remain after this double-header. Historically, Ghana holds an unbeaten home record against Sudan, with four wins and one draw in their past five meetings. On the other hand, Sudan had a mixed start to their campaign, securing a 1-0 victory over Niger but subsequently losing 2-1 to Angola, which ended their four-match unbeaten streak in competitive fixtures. The Falcons of Jediane, currently positioned second in the group with three points, will pursue improvement in their performance, particularly following a goalless draw in Ghana during the 2010 AFCON qualifying match. In terms of team news, Ghana will be without several key players including Thomas Partey and Joseph Paintsil due to injuries, prompting the inclusion of replacements such as Abu Francis and Jonas Adjei Adjetey. The anticipated attacking lineup for Ghana includes players from prominent clubs, showcasing their attacking prowess. Sudan, meanwhile, welcomes back former players Eid Moghaddam and Ahmed Peter while aiming to strengthen their squad’s performance against Ghana. Possible lineups for the match suggest that Ghana might employ a formation featuring Ati-Zigi in goal, supported by a strong defensive and attacking presence. Sudan will look to field their best players to obtain a positive result in this crucial fixture. The match is anticipated to yield a victory for Ghana, predicted to triumph 2-1 over Sudan, despite their struggles thus far in the qualifying rounds. The inherent quality within the Ghanaian squad is expected to pose a significant challenge for Sudan, who have historically found it difficult to secure wins on the road in this matchup.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are critical for teams to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament. Ghana, with a rich football heritage, has been underperforming in this qualifying round and seeks to recover their position within Group F. Their history against Sudan has been favorable, adding to their confidence. Sudan, while having achieved some success in recent World Cup qualifiers, faces a challenging away game against an established opponent.

In summary, the upcoming match between Ghana and Sudan is of utmost importance for both teams in their AFCON qualifying campaigns. Ghana, despite its recent struggles, possesses a wealth of talent and a strong historical record at home, which makes them favorites for a victory. Conversely, Sudan will aim to exploit any weaknesses in the Ghanaian side to secure valuable points.

Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk