Ghana will face Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match on Thursday evening. Both teams are seeking crucial points to solidify their chances of qualifying, with Ghana winless in their first two matches and Sudan looking to bounce back from a recent defeat.
Ghana’s Recent Form
Ghana has had a rocky start to their AFCON qualifying campaign, suffering a 1-0 loss to Angola in their opening match and drawing 1-1 with Niger. Currently sitting third in Group F with just one point, the Black Stars need a victory to get their campaign back on track. Despite their recent struggles, they remain confident as they have a strong home record against Sudan, having never lost at home in five encounters (four wins and one draw).
Sudan’s Recent Form
Sudan began their AFCON qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Niger but were then defeated 2-1 by Angola. The loss snapped a four-match unbeaten streak in competitive matches, which included victories in World Cup qualifiers. Sudan is second in Group F with three points and will be hoping to use their momentum from recent successes in away matches to challenge Ghana.
Team News
Ghana:
Ghana will be without key players such as Thomas Partey, Joseph Paintsil, Kingsley Schindler, and Osman Ibrahim due to injuries. Coach Otto Addo has called up replacements, including Abu Francis, Jonas Adjei Adjetey, Michael Baidoo, and Ibrahim Sadick. Ghana’s attack will likely be led by Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, and Abdul Fatawu, while Alidu Seidu, Mohammed Salisu, and Tariq Lamptey are expected to anchor the defense.
Sudan:
Sudan, coached by former Ghana manager James Kwesi Appiah, will welcome the return of experienced players like goalkeeper Ahmed Peter and former Al Hilal star Eid Moghaddam. Abo Eisa and Mustafa Karshom, who have each scored in the qualifiers, will be key in midfield, while forward Mohamed Abdelrahman aims to get off the mark in the tournament.
Predicted Lineups
Ghana:
Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Salisu, Mumin, Lamptey; Samed, Ashimeru; Fatawu, Kudus, Semenyo; Ayew
Sudan:
Abou; Agab, Koko, Karshoum, Khamis, Abuaagla, Khidir; Eisa, Omer, Thierry; Abdelrahman
Prediction
Ghana, despite their slow start, boasts a squad full of quality and experience. With their strong record against Sudan at home and the depth in their squad, the Black Stars should have the edge in this encounter. Sudan will likely put up a strong fight but may struggle to handle Ghana’s attacking firepower.
Prediction: Ghana 2-0 Sudan
