For over two decades from 1950s to 1970s, Sudan was one of Africa’s most consistent teams along with Egypt and Ghana.
Not surprisingly Sudan won the African Cup tournament in 1970 on home soil just after a coup staged by Gaafar Nimeiry.
Their title winning team was led by the talismanic striker Mustafa Azhari Alawad.
But there was a major controversy in 1970 after Sudan beat Ghana 1-0 to win their only Afcon title to date.
At the final whistle, the Black Stars boycotted the medals presentation ceremony in protest against what they deemed to be biased refereeing.
This was seen as an insult to the Sudanese government and people.
To avoid any further incidents, Sudan President Gaafar Muhammad An-Nimeiry ordered that the Ghanaian team be deported immediately from his country.
Otto Addo’s side have just one point and are third in Group F, making their two games against Sudan in this window crucial to their AFCON qualification campaign, as there will be only two games remaining.
Having featured in each of the last 10 AFCON editions since missing out in 2004, failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON would be a significant blow for the Black Stars, but they will be confident heading into Thursday’s clash as they are unbeaten at home against Sudan, recording four wins and a draw in five such games.
After a 1-0 victory over Niger in their Group F curtain-raiser, Sudan succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Angola in their second match of the qualifying campaign.
The defeat ended the Falcons of Jediane’s four-match unbeaten run in competitive matches, a run that included victories over Congo DR, Mauritania, and South Sudan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This leaves James Kwesi Appiah’s side second in the group with three points, leaving them well-positioned heading into this double header with Ghana.
Sudan had won two straight matches on the road – against South Sudan and Mauritania in the World Cup qualifiers – prior to the defeat against Angola in their last match.
Led by former Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane would be hoping to improve upon the goalless draw they picked up away at Ghana in 2010 in an AFCON qualifying match.
Source : Yaw Ampofo Ankrah
