The pressure is mounting on Ghana’s Black Stars as they face a must-win situation in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan. Following a disappointing 0-0 draw at home against Sudan in their third-round Group F clash, Ghana finds itself in a precarious position, trailing group leader Angola by a significant seven points.
Coach Otto Addo, in his second stint leading the Black Stars, left no room for ambiguity when he stated, “We have to win.” The 49-year-old coach highlighted the missed opportunities in the previous match, where Ghana squandered several clear chances to break the deadlock in Accra. With the halfway point of the qualifying campaign reached, Ghana now faces a crucial battle for survival against Sudan in Benghazi, Libya.
Sudan, unable to host matches due to the ongoing civil war in the country, has been using Benghazi as their temporary home ground. The top two finishers after matchday 6 in November will secure their places in the 24-team finals of the AFCON tournament, a competition that Ghana last won in 1982 in Tripoli. Notably, this is their first qualification miss in 21 years.
While Ghana grapples with their qualification woes, the team can take some solace in the fact that their fate remains in their own hands. With a win against Sudan, they can reignite their hopes of reaching the 2025 AFCON finals. However, the task will be far from easy, especially considering the team’s recent performance and the pressure to deliver a victory. Captain Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United will lead the Black Stars, but they will be without injured Premier League midfielder Thomas Partey of Arsenal.
The upcoming match against Sudan will be a defining moment for Ghana’s AFCON aspirations. It’s a battle they simply must win to stay in the race for a place in the prestigious continental tournament.
