Ghana coach Otto Addo believes the Black Stars are facing two pivotal matches against Sudan as they work toward qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana’s campaign got off to a rocky start with a home loss to Angola and a draw against Niger, placing them in third in Group F. Their next two games, scheduled for October, are seen as critical to their qualification hopes.
Sudan, currently managed by former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, will be a tough opponent. They began their campaign with a win over Niger but later lost 2-1 to Angola, placing them second in the group with three points.
During the CAF Coaches Symposium in Ivory Coast, Addo expressed his belief that Ghana still has a strong chance to qualify. “Surely it’s [qualification] possible. Everybody who can calculate knows it’s possible,” he stated, as quoted by journalist Micky Jnr.
He emphasized the importance of their upcoming matches against Sudan, saying, “We have the advantage, now that we are playing against Sudan front and back, a direct and concrete team, surely we have to beat them.”
Addo also likened the matches to finals, drawing from past experiences. “These are small finals. I had a small final myself when we were successful against Nigeria. I think even though we started badly, we still have a chance to qualify when we get at least four out of the two games, yes it’s possible,” he added.
Ghana will host the first leg, but due to CAF’s ban on the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the match is expected to be played at an alternate venue.
