Ghana’s hopes of reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have received an unexpected boost after Niger’s stunning 4-0 victory over Sudan in their Group F qualifier.
It comes ahead of their clash with already-qualified Angola in Luanda on Friday (19:00 GMT).
Sudan had arrived on the brink of qualification, needing only a draw to secure their place alongside Angola in next year’s tournament in Morocco.
However, their heavy defeat in Lome has thrown the group a bit open, offering Ghana a glimmer of hope.
The Black Stars now face a critical path to qualification: they must first overcome group leaders Angola, who have already secured their spot with nine points, in a crucial away fixture in Luanda on Friday.
Following that, Ghana would need to defeat Niger in their final qualifier while hoping Sudan falters in their remaining match.
Niger’s emphatic victory has propelled them to four points, moving them ahead of Ghana into third place, while Sudan remains second with seven points.
The result has injected new life into the Black Stars’ qualifying campaign, though the four-time African champions still face an uphill battle from their current position at the bottom of the group with just two points.
Should Ghana fail to qualify, it would mark a historic setback – their first absence from the continental showcase since 2004, ending a remarkable 20-year streak of participation.
The second version is better because it captures both the differed qualification and provides context about their hopes still being alive. Let me combine them in the best way:
For Sudan, their defeat to Niger only differs their AFCON 2025 qualification dream to Monday, when they face Angola in Libya. Their hopes remain alive despite the setback, as a single point from this crucial encounter would be enough to secure their place at the continental showpiece.
The pressure continues to mount on Ghana’s coach Otto Addo, who must navigate these decisive qualifiers to avoid what would be considered a national disappointment for a country that has reached eight AFCON finals.
Group F standings:
- Angola – 12 points (qualified)
- Sudan – 7 points
- Niger – 4 points
- Ghana – 2 points
