The Black Stars of Ghana are set to play against Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in a crucial second-leg AFCON qualifier, with the match taking place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya. Sudan has adopted this venue for their home games due to ongoing restrictions in their country.

Notably, the match is being played on artificial turf, a factor the Ghanaian team is already aware of and prepared for.

According to Henry Asante Twum, the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, the Black Stars knew before their departure from Accra that the game would be held on an astro turf field. He emphasized that the team must remain focused on their preparations and not be distracted by the pitch conditions.

Ghana is aiming to secure a crucial victory in this match, which will take them five points clear in Group F. The Black Stars have had a rocky start to the qualifiers, dropping important points in their previous encounters, including a goalless draw in the first leg against Sudan last week.

Sudan, meanwhile, began their campaign with a win over Niger but have struggled to maintain momentum, losing to Angola and drawing with Ghana in Accra.

Both teams come into this match with much at stake as they vie for a top-two finish in the group to secure their place in the next round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

Team News

Ghana will be without key players like Thomas Partey, Joseph Paintsil, and Kingsley Schindler, who were absent from the squad. However, the team is boosted by the return of forward Antoine Semenyo, who will likely lead the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

For Sudan, young star Sulaiman Ezzallah has been added to the squad, hoping to make a positive impact after being called up for his impressive performances.

Prediction

This match is expected to be tightly contested, with both sides having failed to score in their previous meeting. With neither team having a clear edge, a 1-1 draw seems a likely outcome. Both teams will be fighting hard for a much-needed victory, but a low-scoring affair is anticipated.