The Black Stars of Ghana will be hoping to complete the national team football calendar year with a win when they host Sudan in a 2021 AFCON Group C qualifier at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Thursday.
The Ghana senior national team are in top of the group with six points from two goals and a win at their fortress could automatically brighten their chances of making it Africa’s biggest soccer fiesta in Cameroon next year.
Ghana has always had the urge over Sudan as in eleven meetings, the Black Stars have won eight with their counterparts winning twice and one game ending in a draw.
The game at the Cape Coast stadium which will be played without fans per the directives from CAF might be no different as Ghana looks home on dry to amass the three maximum points.
On paper, it looks like a done deal for Ghana but what could affect the team is that they didn’t have enough time to prepare and some of the players who are mostly new were called into the team just three days ago.
The Sudanese on the other hand had adequate time to prepare and they were in Ethiopia for a two weeks training camp which saw them playing a series of friendly games which included a 2-2 draw with the Ethiopian national team.
Black Stars coach Charles Akonnor will be missing the services of star midfielders Thomas Partey and Mubarak Wakaso who could not make the trip back home and it could be a major worry.
One department of the game that Ghana should be wary of the Sudanese is their attack. The East Africans have a great attacking force comprising of Seifeldin Malik of Al Merrikh and Mohamed Abdelrahman of Algerian outfit Bordj Bou Arreridj who can be deadly on any day.
Ghana skipper Andre Ayew will be very key if the Black Stars are to carry the day. He has proven to be the heart and soul of the team and anytime he has a good day the team also moves.
Ghana are no doubt firm favourites to win the day but they should eschew complacency as the Sudanese are well prepared for the encounter.
