Ghana coach Otto Addo is anticipating a challenging match against Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, highlighting their impressive form under coach Kwesi Appiah.

Drawn alongside Angola and Niger, Ghana’s primary focus is on Sudan, led by the former Ghana captain and manager, Appiah, who also serves on the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council.

Sudan’s strong performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they lead their group ahead of Senegal and DR Congo, has earned Addo’s respect.

“We have Sudan, who are doing really well at the moment with Kwesi Appiah,” Addo told the Ghana FA website. “He is a very good coach.”

Addo acknowledged the difficulty that Sudan presents. “They are not a well-known squad, but they are very tough to beat,” he said. “It’s going to be a big challenge.”

Despite the challenge, Addo remains optimistic. “I am excited to play against them,” he said. “We have a strong team, and we surely can beat them.”

The qualifiers are set to begin in September this year and conclude in November.

The 2025 AFCON finals will then begin on December 21 next year, with the final on January 18, 2026, marking the first time in Nations Cup history that the tournament will kick off in December and run over the Christmas and New Year period.