Ghana’s Black Stars are on the brink of missing out on Africa Cup of Nations qualification for the first time in 20 years following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sudan at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi on Tuesday afternoon.
This result puts the Black Stars in a precarious position as they face an uphill battle to secure their place in the tournament in Morocco next year.
Ghana, in the first meeting against Sudan, had the upper hand but failed to convert their chances, and while luck may have played a part in Sudan’s earlier draw in Accra, they came out firing in this encounter. The North Africans were determined and tactically disciplined, seizing their opportunities with two quick goals in the second half that ultimately settled the contest.
Despite not dominating possession, Sudan’s purposeful play kept Ghana on the back foot. Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was called into action several times and made crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Ghana’s best chance came from a cross, but a miscommunication between Ernest Nuamah and Inaki Williams saw them collide instead of connecting. By halftime, Ghana had not recorded a single shot on target, a worrying statistic for a team in desperate need of goals.
The second half saw a glimmer of hope for Ghana when a goal from Inaki Williams was disallowed for offside, but replays indicated the call was incorrect. That moment of misfortune shifted the momentum in favour of Sudan, who capitalised on a counterattack in the 62nd minute with a goal from Ahmed Al-Tash. Ghana’s defensive woes were evident as Alidu Seidu and Gideon Mensah both failed to clear the ball, allowing Sudan to take the lead. Just three minutes later, Mohamed Abdel Raman showcased his pace, outpacing Mohammed Salisu and slotting a low shot past Ati-Zigi to double Sudan’s lead.
Ghana struggled to mount a response, with Mohammed Kudus’s audacious attempt sailing over the bar and Inaki Williams missing a volley from inside the box. The Black Stars were left frustrated, with Sudan resorting to time-wasting tactics and physical play, which led to tempers flaring on the pitch.
As it stands, the group standings show Angola leading with 9 points, followed by Sudan with 7 points. Ghana are languishing in third with just 2 points, ahead of Niger, who have 1 point. Technically, Angola have already qualified, while Sudan is just a point away from securing their spot. For Ghana to have any hope, they must win their remaining two matches against Angola and Niger while relying on Sudan to drop points against the same opponents.
This defeat has intensified scrutiny of the state of Ghanaian football. The Black Stars have been struggling for years, with their last AFCON triumph in 1982. The team has suffered back-to-back group-stage exits in the 2021 and 2023 tournaments, and failing to qualify for 2025 would mark a notable decline for a nation that once dominated African football.
Coach Otto Addo cut a dejected figure on the sidelines, knowing that this result could potentially cost him his job. Ghana’s failure to register a single goal during the October international break adds further pressure as they look to regroup and salvage their qualifying campaign.
Source:
3news.com
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