Ghana Held to Frustrating Goalless Draw Against Sudan in AFCON Qualifier

Accra, Ghana – The Black Stars’ quest for a winning start in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers suffered a setback as they were held to a goalless draw by Sudan at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Match Summary

Date: October 10, 2024

Competition: Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification, Group F

Venue: Cape Coast Stadium

Attendance: 15,000

Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

Ghana dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Sudan’s defense holding firm. The Black Stars’ best opportunity came in the 65th minute when André Ayew’s header was parried away by Sudanese goalkeeper Ali Abu Eshrein.

Sudan’s Resilience

Sudan, ranked 124th in the FIFA rankings, showed remarkable resilience to secure a valuable point. Their coach, Burhaneldin Hussien, praised his team’s defensive solidity: “We came here to get a result, and we achieved that. We’ll build on this performance.”

Ghana’s Disappointment

Ghana coach, Chris Hughton, expressed frustration: “We controlled the game but couldn’t capitalize on our chances. We need to improve our finishing.”

Standings and Implications

The draw leaves Ghana third in Group F with 2 points from 3 games, while Sudan moves to second place with 4 points.