Resolute Sudan Deny Ghana Victory in Accra, Leaves AFCON Qualification Hanging
The Black Stars were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.
The result leaves Ghana’s AFCON qualification hopes hanging by a thread, with the team sitting third in Group F, having picked up just two points from a possible nine, trailing both Angola and Sudan.
Playing in Accra for the first time in nearly three years, the Black Stars started the game brightly, controlling possession and applying early pressure, resulting in a string of corner kicks that offered Ghana an opportunity to break the deadlock, but they were unable to capitalize.
The closest the home side came to scoring in the first half was in the third minute when Alexander Djiku’s free header rattled the crossbar, a moment that could have changed the complexion of the game early on.
Despite Ghana’s dominance in the early stages, Sudan gradually grew into the game, creating a few promising chances, but Ghana goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati Zigi stood firm.
Bournemouth forward, Antoine Semenyo came close to giving Ghana the lead after skillfully beating a Sudanese defender and forcing a save from the Sudan goalkeeper. However, clear-cut chances remained scarce, and the first half ended goalless.
In the second half, Ghana again dominated possession and looked to break the deadlock, winning three successive corners that went unconverted.
Head coach Otto Addo made attacking changes, bringing on Iñaki Williams and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku to increase the pressure on Sudan’s defense.
The substitutions injected fresh energy into the Black Stars’ attack, and Ghana began to create more dangerous chances. Kudus Mohammed came agonizingly close to scoring, but his shot from close range was miraculously saved off the goal line by the Sudanese goalkeeper, Mohammed Mustafa.
Iñaki Williams, who injected life into Ghana’s offense, created several chances for himself late in the game, but again, Mustafa’s heroics in goal denied the Black Stars a crucial win.
The goalless draw leaves Ghana in a precarious position ahead of their return fixture against Sudan, set to take place in Libya at the Martyrs of February Stadium in four days time.
Coach Otto Addo, who reacted after the goalless draw with Sudan, spoke about how unlucky Ghana was on the day.
“We deserved to win, Sudan was very lucky today and we were unlucky. But we’ll stay positive and beat them away.”
With no wins in the qualifiers after three matches, the upcoming game is seen as a must-win encounter for the Black Stars if they are to keep their AFCON 2025 hopes alive.
As a moment of anxiousness grow over the team’s chances, the pressure will be on Otto Addo and his players to deliver a positive result in the reverse fixture and breathe life back into their AFCON qualifying campaign.