Ghana seeks face saving win against Sudan
Sudan will host Ghana at Al-Merreikh Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, hoping to extend their lead over their opponents.
Sudan are second in Group F with four points, two ahead of the Black Stars who are in third place with two points.
Sudan survived several goal attempts and goal-mouth scrambles to secure a hard-earned goalless draw away at Ghana last Thursday.
It was an important point for Sudan, who lost to Angola in their previous game, leaving them at risk of dropping to third place if they had lost to the Black Stars.
However, the risk remains, as Coach Kwesi Appiah‘s side must avoid defeat on Tuesday to remain in the top two and improve their chances of clinching one of the two AFCON tickets.
Head-to-Head
In five meetings between both teams when Sudan have been hosts, the home side have won two and lost three – though the most recent ended 1-0 in favour of the Falcons of Jediane, coincidentally an AFCON qualifying match in 2020. Sudan are unbeaten in the last three qualifying matches they have hosted.
Black Stars
The Black Stars have featured in the last 10 AFCON editions since missing out in 2004, but that run is at huge risk of ending if they fail to pick up a win away at Sudan on Tuesday.
The Ghanaian Football Association (GFA) reappointed Otto Addo as head coach of the Ghana national football team in March with the aim of leading the team to another AFCON, after sacking Chris Hughton following a poor showing at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
The coach is unbeaten on the road in his second spell at the helm, picking up a 2-1 win away at Mali in a World Cup qualifier in June, and a 1-1 draw with Niger in their only 2025 AFCON qualifying away match so far.
With another Ghanaian, a former Black Stars coach and GFA executive council member until last week, in the opposite dugout, the visitors must pull off new tricks if they want to leave Sudan with the required result, as they have now failed to score in two of their three games in the AFCON qualifiers so far.
Athletic Bilbao’s forward Inaki Williams attempted more shots (three) than Jordan Ayew (one), despite only coming on for the latter in the 69th minute in the first leg, which could see him earn the starting place on Tuesday.
West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus missed two of the Black Stars’ four big chances, but he would hope to be more clinical when he starts behind the striker once again.
Sudan’s goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa had an outstanding game in the first leg, making seven saves and one high claim, and he will be hoping to make a difference once more between the sticks.
Mohamed Abdelrahman, who is yet to open his goal account in the AFCON qualifiers, will be hoping to do so when he leads the line once again.
Prediction
A combination of a brilliant performance from the goalkeeper, opposition wastefulness, and luck prevented Sudan from losing to Ghana in the first leg – however, we believe that might not be the case again this time, as the visitors know it is crunch time and should be able to find the important goal.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Niger and Angola go head to head in Group F
Niger and Angola return to action in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they go head to head at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in the second of their Group F double-header on Tuesday.
Zaki Badou‘s side set out in search of their first win of the campaign while the Black Sable Antelopes head into the game on a run of seven straight wins across all competitions and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Niger were condemned to their second defeat in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they were beaten 2-0 by Angola when the two sides squared off at the Estadio 11 de Novembro on Friday.
Badou’s men have now gone five straight matches without a win across all competitions, losing four and picking up one draw since with a 2-1 victory over Zambia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they currently sit third in Group E with three points from four matches.
While Niger will look to find their feet on Tuesday, they will need to show their mettle against an opposing side who have won each of the last three meetings between the two nations, scoring seven goals and conceding twice since June 2008.
With Friday’s result, Angola have now maintained their 100% record in the race for a place in Morocco as they edge closer to securing back-to-back AFCON appearances, following their quarter-final finish in Ivory Coast.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast face off in Group G
Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast will face off for just the second time in a matter of days when they go head-to-head in Tuesday’s clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia.
The hosts will be looking to produce a positive response after they fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat in Friday’s reverse fixture in San-Pedro.
After failing to reach the 2023 tournament, Sierra Leone will be desperate to secure a spot at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
They fell to a defeat in Friday’s away meeting with Ivory Coast. Tuesday’s hosts will be desperate to avenge that result with a victory in Tuesday’s return fixture, but that may be easier said than done, having failed to win any of their last four home games in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast are looking to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to defend the title that they won in their home tournament earlier this year.
Having taken maximum points from their three qualifiers, Ivory Coast are confident of securing qualification for a tournament that will take place from December 2025 to January 2026.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Group A
Comoros 20:00 Tunisia
Group B
Central African Republic 20:00 Morocco
Group C
Group D
Libya 20:00 Nigeria
Group F
Niger 17:00 Angola
Group G
Sierra Leone 17:00 Ivory Coast
Group H
Group I
Group K
Group L
