Ghana coach Otto Addo has labeled the Black Stars’ upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifier against Sudan as a must-win game.
This call to action follows a challenging start to the qualifying campaign, where Ghana failed to secure victories in their first two matches.
Black Stars Struggle in Opening Matches
Ghana’s quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hasn’t started as planned. The Black Stars suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Angola last Thursday, and just a few days later, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Niger.
These results have put pressure on the team and their coach to turn things around quickly.
Now, all eyes are on the Black Stars’ next challenge: a double-header against Sudan in October. Interestingly, Sudan is coached by James Kwasi Appiah, a Ghanaian football veteran.
These encounters will play a crucial role in determining Ghana’s qualification hopes.
Addo: “We Have to Win”
Coach Otto Addo has openly admitted the Black Stars are feeling the heat. He described the upcoming match against Sudan as crucial, emphasizing that there is no room for another poor result.
“It will be difficult again. I knew from the start, it’s just some little margins, little details which can decide. This will be, for us, a crucial match. We have to win, there is no way around it,” the coach stated.
Addo stressed that securing a victory against Sudan is vital to boosting their chances of performing better in future games. “We are under pressure, this is for sure, and we have to do better,” he added.
Otto Addo says Ghana 🇬🇭 must win against James Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan.#AFCON2025Q pic.twitter.com/vXDNZDKBdq
— Ghanasoccernet.com (@Ghanasoccernet) September 10, 2024
A Wake-Up Call for the Team
Despite the early setbacks, Addo remains confident that Ghana’s chances of qualifying for AFCON are still alive. However, he pointed out areas where the team must improve, particularly in defence.
“We have to improve much. We have to use our chances and also defend better in detail. The goals we conceded were too cheap, and we have to learn from this. This is more than a wake-up call,” the coach explained.
Otto Addo’s time at the helm has not been smooth sailing, with only two wins in six matches since his reappointment. Yet, as Ghana prepares to face Sudan, the coach and his players know that a win is crucial to get their AFCON campaign back on track.
The Black Stars will need to rise to the occasion and show their resilience in what promises to be a thrilling double-header against the Secretarybirds.
