By Aaior K. Comfort

Ghana’s quest for qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took a significant hit as they were held to a goalless draw by Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, the Black Stars failed to convert any chances, leaving their hopes for qualification in jeopardy.

The match began positively for Ghana, with defender Alexander Djiku coming close to scoring in the fourth minute. His header hit the crossbar following a well-placed corner from Mohammed Kudus.

Ghana continued to press for an early lead, but Sudan’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Mustafa Ahmed, was exceptional, making crucial saves, including a brilliant stop from Antoine Semenyo in the 17th minute.

As the match progressed, Sudan’s defense tightened, effectively frustrating Ghana’s attacking efforts. The Black Stars struggled to penetrate the visitors’ disciplined defense, which limited their goal-scoring opportunities.

In a near-miss moment, Kudus had another chance in the 88th minute, but Mustafa produced another remarkable save to keep the scoreline level.

With only two points from three matches, Ghana’s path to qualification has become increasingly complicated. They face a challenging away match against Sudan in Libya on October 15, 2024, a fixture that has become a must-win to keep their AFCON hopes alive.

Coach Chris Hughton expressed frustration over the team’s lack of finishing ability. While the defense, anchored by Djiku and Joseph Aidoo, performed well, the attacking players must improve in upcoming fixtures.