Ghana drawn against Kwasi Appiah's Sudan in AFCON 2025 qualifiers amid conflict of interest concerns

The draw for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025, qualifiers held today in Johannesburg threw up an interesting matchup with the Black Stars of Ghana set to face Sudan, coached by current Ghana Football Association Executive Council Member, Kwasi Appiah.

The draw which saw Ghana grouped with Sudan, Angola and Niger in Group F brings to life conflict of interest concerns which were raised when former Ghana international and coach Appiah was elected to the GFA ExCo in October 2023, a month after he was appointed Sudan coach in September 2023.

Ghana was among the 12 seeded teams in Pot 1 heading into the draw as a result of being among the 12 highest-ranked nations based on the latest FIFA Rankings.

Ranked the 12th best team in Africa following impressive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in recent World Cup qualifiers, the Black Stars drew Angola (ranked 20th) from pot 2, Sudan (ranked 33rd) from pot 3 and Niger (ranked 37th).

Other pairings

The draw produced 12 groups of four teams each (Groups A to L) who will be aiming to qualify for the 35th edition of the biennial Africa showpiece in an attempt to dethrone coach Emerse Fae's Cote d'Ivoire as continental kings.

Fae - one of the two draw assistants together with Morocco legend Marouane Chamakh - saw his side placed in a tricky group as they bid to defend their title.

Cote d'Ivoire are defending champions after defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the continent's flagship sports competition in Abidjan earlier this year. The Elephants were placed in Group G where they will play former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad.

Hosts Morocco were placed in Group B where they will take on Gabon, Central African Republic and Lesotho. Morocco will approach this qualifying campaign with less pressure since they are already assured of participating in the competition on home ground.

Record seven-time AFCON champions Egypt were drawn in Group C alongside Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana while this year's losing finalists Nigeria have been paired with neighbours Benin, Libya and Rwanda.

In Group E, 2019 Champions Algeria will face Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia while Group H pits DR Congo against Guinea, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Mali will play Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Eswatini in Group I, five-time AFCON champions Cameroun will face Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe in Group J, 1996 winners South Africa will play Uganda, Congo and South Sudan in Group K while 2021 winners Senegal have been drawn with Burkina Faso, Malawi and Burundi in Group L.

The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.

The first and runners-up in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will gain qualification to the competition.

Groups:

Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho 
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda 
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi