Ghana's hopes of making it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hangs on a thread after the team suffered a massive blow in last month's qualifying double-header against Sudan.While within the grasp of the country to outperform Sudan and stake a claim as to why Ghana should be at the continental showpiece, the Black Stars were only able to walk away with a point out of six, as Sudan garnered four and put themselves in a better position to qualify ahead of Ghana.A win for Ghana in Libya in their return game against Sudan would have blown Group F wide open, possibly making the final two games a make-or-break tie for both Ghana and Sudan.But after putting up lethargic performances, which took the sting out of the tale, Sudan are in pole position to qualify for the AFCON for the first time since 2021.Sudan need to pick up a point in their last two games to guarantee their spot.
Based on the evidence of how good they've been, especially since the appointment of Kwesi Appiah in September 2023, it would be unbelievable for Sudan to fail to qualify for the tournament. 🚨Our squad for the AFCON qualifiers against Angola & Niger! 📝🆕 New addition: Emmanuel Antwi & Razak Simpson🇬🇭 The #BlackStars will take on Angola at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Friday, November 15, 2024.Ghana will then face Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on… pic.twitter.com/n520qvoESI- 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 7, 2024 The only time Sudan lost in their last five games was against Angola on matchday two, of which Angola had to dig deep to seal a win - which came via a late Nteka spot kick. That goes to show how well-drilled they are under Kwesi Appiah and how difficult they are to beat.Angola have already punched their tickets to the 2025 AFCON and are unaffected by the outcomes in their remaining two games.
It could well prove to be an occasion to give fringe players opportunities to play while for Sudan and Ghana, it is an entirely different situation.Sudan take on Niger, who are bottom of the group, on November 14.
The Black Stars can only hope Niger will put up a fight and maybe, just maybe, spring up a surprise and beat Sudan.And if Niger are able to do Ghana an unlikely favour, they also have to do their bit by beating Angola, which will prove to be difficult, given how wins have been few and far for Ghana in 2024.The harsh reality, however, is even without kicking a ball, 24 hours to Ghana's game, the Black Stars' fate could officially be sealed if Sudan manage any positive result of note against Niger.Never, not even in the recent 2023 AFCON, has Ghana found itself in a complex mathematical situation as this.