Kwesi Appiah \u00a9 Gallo Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah hopes to guide Sudan to victory over his country of birth in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations matchday 3 qualifier on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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The off-form Black Stars cannot afford to lose the Group F match in Accra to rivals 50 places lower in the world rankings after making a dismal start in the campaign to reach the finals in Morocco.<\/p>\n
Last month, Ghana lost at home to Angola and then surrendered the lead in a draw away to Niger, and sit third in a section where only the top two finishers qualify.<\/p>\n
Angola and Sudan are first and second with six and three points respectively after the first two matches in a six-round competition.<\/p>\n
Appiah, a 64-year-old who has had two spells as Ghana coach, has impressed with Sudan, a team unable to play at home since last year because of a civil war.<\/p>\n
The Sudanese top a 2026 World Cup qualifying group that includes Senegal. They boast a consistent scorer in Mohamed Abdelrahman.<\/p>\n
Ghana coach Otto Addo has lost four of his squad 54to injuries, with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey the most notable absentee.<\/p>\n
AFP Sport highlights five other matches, out of 24 to be played over three days from Thursday. Matchday 4 will then kicked off on Sunday and continue through Tuesday.<\/p>\n
NIGERIA V LIBYA<\/strong><\/p>\n Injured 2023 African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen is absent, but caretaker Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen can choose his forwards from seven playing in top European leagues.<\/p>\n Among them is Ademola Lookman, the only African contender for the Ballon d’Or this year, and a likely starter for the Group D leaders in Uyo.<\/p>\n Bottom-placed Libya have fired Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic and local replacement Nasser al Hadhiri has admitted that “a draw in Nigeria would be a positive result for us”.<\/p>\n SOUTH AFRICA V CONGO<\/strong><\/p>\n South Africa have lost injured ‘super sub’ Thalente Mbatha and unavailable winger Percy Tau, while midfielder Jayden Adams has been dropped for unspecified ill-discipline.<\/p>\n The 2024 Afcon bronze medallists did not impress last month with Mbatha scoring added-time goals to salvage a Group K draw with Uganda and a win over minnows South Sudan.<\/p>\n Congo have struggled, with a six-goal World Cup qualifying hammering from Morocco the low point, and are likely to return empty-handed from eastern coastal city Gqeberha.<\/p>\n CAMEROON V KENYA<\/strong><\/p>\n Cameroon, the second most successful nation in the Afcon with five titles, will look to Bryan Mbeumo for goals when they host improving Kenya in a top-of-the-table Group J showdown.<\/p>\n The France-born forward has scored six Premier League goals for Brentford this season \u2013 a tally bettered only by 10-goal Erling Haaland of Manchester City.<\/p>\n Cameroon and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana says the Harambee Stars “are the only serious threat” in a section including Namibia and Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n EGYPT V MAURITANIA<\/strong><\/p>\n As if prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah was not enough of a threat, Mauritania must also contend with Bundesliga star Omar Marmoush when they visit Group C leaders Egypt.<\/p>\n Marmoush tops the German elite league scoring charts with eight goals for Eintracht Frankfurt \u2013 three more than England star Harry Kane has for Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n Egypt captain Salah arrived in Cairo having become the top-scoring African in the Uefa Champions League. Heovertook Ivorian Didier Drogba with his 45th goal in the competition against Bologna.<\/p>\n SENEGAL V MALAWI<\/strong><\/p>\n Senegal, the 2022 Afcon champions, will be guided by Pape Thiaw after coach Aliou Cisse’s contract was not renewed following nine years in charge.<\/p>\n The unexpected removal of Cisse came after he failed to meet targets set by the sports ministry, including reaching the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals and winning back-to-back Afcon titles.<\/p>\n Thiaw, 43, assisted Cisse, and will expect to make a winning debut at home to Malawi, who conceded six goals when losing Group L qualifiers against Burundi and Burkina Faso.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n