Ghana’s Black Stars will face Sudan on Thursday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium in a pivotal 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match.
The Black Stars are still searching for their first win of the campaign, while Sudan will aim to bounce back after a recent defeat.
Match Preview
Ghana’s qualifying journey so far has been far from ideal. Their 24-year unbeaten streak at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Sports Stadium was snapped by a 1-0 defeat to Angola in their AFCON opener, followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw against Niger. Alidu Seidu’s first-half goal gave Ghana the lead, but despite their dominance, a late equalizer from Niger’s Oumar Sako denied the Black Stars three points.
With just one point from two games, Otto Addo’s side sits third in Group F, making this double-header against Sudan vital for their AFCON qualification hopes. Anything less than a win could jeopardize their bid for a place in the 2025 AFCON, a tournament they have featured in consistently since 2004. However, history is on Ghana’s side— they have never lost at home to Sudan, boasting four wins and a draw in their previous five encounters.
Sudan, led by former Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah, started their AFCON campaign with a 1-0 win over Niger but fell 2-1 to Angola in their second match. This defeat ended their four-match unbeaten run in competitive games, which included victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite the setback, Sudan is second in the group with three points and will be hopeful of a strong showing in this crucial away fixture.
Sudan has found some success on the road in recent games, winning two consecutive away matches against South Sudan and Mauritania before their loss to Angola. The Falcons of Jediane will look to improve on their previous AFCON visit to Ghana, where they managed a goalless draw in 2010.
Current Form
- Ghana’s AFCON Qualifying Form: L D
- Ghana’s Recent Form (All Competitions): L D W W L D
- Sudan’s AFCON Qualifying Form: W L
- Sudan’s Recent Form (All Competitions): W L W W W L
Team News
For Ghana, the squad has been reshuffled due to injuries. Thomas Partey, Joseph Paintsil, Kingsley Schindler, and Osman Ibrahim have all withdrawn. In their place, Otto Addo has called up Abu Francis, Jonas Adjei Adjetey, Michael Baidoo, and Ibrahim Sadick.
Ghana’s attacking options will be led by Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao, Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth, Mohammed Kudus of West Ham, and Abdul Fatawu of Leicester City.
Sudan, on the other hand, welcomes the return of former Al Hilal star Eid Moghaddam and Al-Merreikh goalkeeper Ahmed Peter. Abo Eisa and Mustafa Karshoum, both of whom have found the net during these qualifiers, will look to contribute again, while centre-forward Mohamed Abdelrahman will aim to get off the mark.
Probable Lineups
Ghana (4-2-3-1):
Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Salisu, Mumin, Lamptey; Elisha, Ashimeru; Fatawu, Kudus, Semenyo; Inaki
Sudan (4-2-3-1):
Abou; Agab, Koko, Karshoum, Khamis; Abuaagla, Khidir; Eisa, Omer, Thierry; Abdelrahman
Prediction: Ghana 2-1 Sudan
Despite their shaky start, Ghana’s squad possesses undeniable quality, which could be overwhelming for Sudan. While Sudan has shown resilience on the road, Ghana’s dominance at home in this fixture suggests the Black Stars should come away with a crucial win. Expect a closely contested game, but Ghana’s firepower could see them edge past the visitors.
