2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Sudan holds advantage over Ghana because of Kwesi Appiah – Laryea Kingston

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston believes coach Kwesi Appiah and the Sudan national team will have an edge over Ghana when they face off in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Black Stars were handed a tricky group for the 2025 AFCON qualifications following a draw ceremony on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ghana, who are four-time winners of the competitions were placed in Group F of the draw, and will compete with Sudan, Niger and Angola for AFCON slot next year.

Interestingly, the Black Stars will be facing former coach Kwesi Appiah, who is currently the head coach of the Sudan national team.

And according to Kingston, Kwesi will have the edge over the Black Stars since he knows more about Ghana football.

"Kwesi Appiah is a Ghanaian and he knows how we approach games," Kingston told 3Sports after the draw. "He knows a lot of positives about Ghanaians and our mindset, so I think it's going to be very difficult for us. Kwesi Appiah will have an advantage as he knows us more than Otto will know the Sudanese players."

Appiah's success with Sudan in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers strengthens Kingston's point. Sudan currently top Group B with 10 points after four matches.

"If I am in Kwesi Appiah's shoes now, it will be a game I will be looking forward to," Kingston continued. "There are so many things I will have to prove and show that I still have what it takes to lead this country. It is going to be one of the best games in Otto's time at the Black Stars."

The two top teams from each group will secure automatic qualification to the CAF’s biggest event on the continent.

The qualifying series will start in September 2024 to determine the first 24 nations from the 48 teams that will compete for the AFCON tournament.

The Black Stars has recently performed badly at the Africa Cup of Nations, suffering back to back exit from the group stage.

Ghana are four time winners of the AFCON trophy and last won it in 1982 in Libya.

Otto Addo and his charges will be hoping to secure qualification and subsequently battle to end the over 40-years AFCON trophy drought.

The Black Stars has been impressive under new coach Otto Addo having steered the team to back to back wins last month during the World Cup qualifiers.