Ghana may miss 2025 AFCON, Algeria, others move on

Unless the Black Stars of Ghana step up their campaign, the country may miss out in the qualifiers for 2025 AFCON. The Black Stars were held to a 0-0 home draw by Sudan in Africa Cup of Nations qualification on Thursday to leave it in a perilous position midway through the campaign.

Ghana’s failure to score means it is winless in its opening three fixtures.

Defender Alexander Djiku struck the crossbar with a first half header while stand-in captain Mohammed Kudus was twice denied by fine saves from Sudan goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa. Ghana missed midfielder Thomas Partey, who was not fit to play .

Sudan is coached by Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah, who, until earlier this week, was also a Ghana Football Association (GFA) executive council member before the Confederation of African Football demanded he relinquish one of his roles.

It has been reported in local media he has temporarily stood down from his GFA position until the end of the qualifiers in November to avoid a conflict of interests.

Several countries edged closer to the finals in Morocco late next year. Algeria beat Togo 5-1 to keep up its 100 per cent record in the qualifiers and Burkina Faso thumped Burundi 4-1.

Algeria romped to victory over Togo but it had to come from behind after Thibault Klidje put the visitor ahead with his first international goal .

Said Benrahma scored a brace, the second a penalty, to put Algeria ahead, before Houssem Aouar, Amine Gouiri and Mohamed Amoura added gloss to the win.

Democratic Republic of Congo also has one foot in the finals after it defeated Tanzania 1-0 in Kinshasa for a full haul of nine points.

Tanzania striker Clement Mzize put the ball into his own net early in the second half to give the host victory.

Burundi took the lead through