AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Otto Addo anticipates tough challenge against Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan

Head Coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo says he expects a tough test when Ghana faces Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON).

The draw for the qualifiers, held in Johannesburg on Thursday, June 4, pitted Ghana against Sudan, Angola and Niger in Group F with the top two teams set to qualify for the 2025 AFCON to be staged in Morocco.

Touching on the strength of Ghana's opponents and chances in the group, he said: "We have Sudan who are really, really doing well at the moment with Kwesi Appiah which I know personally. He is a very good coach. They are not a known squad but like I said, they are doing really, really good at the moment in the World Cup qualification games, very, very tough to beat." 

"It’s going to be a really big challenge to beat them and for this, we have to be at 100% best. But I am excited to play against them, and like I said it’s going to be tough. It’s not easy but we have a strong team and we surely can beat them, this is for sure," he told ghanafa.org.

Despite expecting a tough test, the Black Stars gaffer was sure to surmount the challenge and claim their place at the continent's biggest football event. 

"Surely, we believe in ourselves to qualify from this group. But it’s going to be tough. To begin with Angola, I think they have a very, very good squad. I think they had a good AFCON but went out after losing1-0 to Nigeria; they did really, really well in that match, I watched it. 

He continued: "They are actually doing good right now leading their group in the COSAFA Cup and qualifying for the next round. Also in the World Cup qualification games they did quite well, they drew against Cameroon in their last game so they have a strong squad and we can’t take it easy."

"It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be close but like I said, I have strong belief that we can succeed against them."