Sudan upset wasteful Ghana in Omdurman

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020. 17:21

Sudan secured a 1-0 win over Ghana in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman on Tuesday afternoon.

As a result, the Falcons of Jediane remain third on the Group C standings – three points behind leaders, Ghana with two matches left.

The Falcons of Jediane were looking to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered against Ghana in Cape Coast over the weekend.

However, it was the visitors, who threatened first through Jordan Ayew, whose shot went across the face of goal narrowly missing the target in the 11th minute.

Fatau Dauda, who had replaced the suspended Richard Ofori in the Ghana goal posts, was called into action just before the half-hour mark.

The Legon Cities goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny Mohamed Abdelrahman as Sudan pushed for the opening goal of the match.

The Black Stars then upped the tempo with Mubarak Wakaso pulling the strings in midfield and he attempted to play a through pass for Tariqe Fosu.

However, Sudan goalkeeper Ali Abdallah Abu-Eshrein reacted quickly and came out and snatched the ball, before Fosu could pounce and score.

The score was 0-0 during the half-time break with Sudan having contained four-time African champions Ghana in the first-half.

The Black Stars continued to push for the opening goal after the restart with Jordan Ayew, who was captaining the team in the absence of his injured brother Andre, looking lively.

The Crystal Palace centre forward pulled the trigger from range and his thunderous effort was brilliantly finger-tipped over the crossbar by Abu-Eshrein in the 52nd minute.

Al Hilal Omdurman striker Maaz Gismalla was then introduced by Sudan coach Hubert Velud as the home side looked to break the deadlock.

Ghana were awarded a free-kick in a promising area after Afriyie Acquah was fouled in the closing stages of the match, but Ayew was denied by Abu Eshrein from the set-piece.

Abdelrahman had other ideas as he grabbed a late winning goal for the hosts in stoppage time when he headed home Ramadan Agab’s cross to seal Sudan’s 1-0 win over Ghana.

Sudan (0) 1 (Abdelrahman 90’+2)

Ghana (0) 0

Sudan: Abu Eshrein, Wadah (Mozamil 45′), Kamal, F. Abdalla, Merghani, A. Abdalla, Mahmoud (Gismalla 65′), Mokhtar, El Shigail, Agab, Abdelrahman.

Ghana: Dauda, Opoku, Djiku (Aidoo 79′), Boye, Baba Rahman, Acquah, Wakaso, Fosu, Schlupp (Owusu 67′), J. Ayew, Ekuban (Antwi 67′).