Sudan have secured the second and final qualification spot in Group F of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after a goalless draw against Angola on Matchday 6 on Monday.
Niger’s spirited 2-1 win over Ghana in Accra was not enough to overtake Sudan in the standings, as they finished one point behind the Nile Crocodiles.
Angola, already assured of their place in the finals, topped the group with an unbeaten record.
Niger’s Brave Victory Falls Short
Niger entered their match against Ghana knowing that they needed a win and a favorable result in the Sudan-Angola game to stand a chance of qualifying.
The visitors got off to a strong start at the Accra Sports Stadium, taking the lead in the 22nd minute.
Ousseini Badamassi rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Rahim Alhassane, heading the ball past Ghanaian goalkeeper Abdul Nurudeen to make it 1-0.
Despite Niger’s dominance in the first half, Ghana responded after the break.
The home side equalized in the 67th minute through Jeremia Afriyie, who converted Ernest Nuamah’s low cross with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
The equalizer brought Ghana’s fans to life as the Black Stars pushed for a second goal.
In a dramatic final ten minutes, Niger came close to regaining their lead when Kairou Amoustapha’s powerful shot struck the post.
However, Niger would not be denied. In stoppage time, Oumar Sako headed in Alhassane’s cross to restore their advantage at 2-1.
Ghana had one final opportunity to deny Niger the win in the dying moments of the game.
Mohammed Kudus won a penalty after being fouled by Ousseini Badamassi in the box, but the Ghanaian star saw his spot-kick saved by Niger goalkeeper Mahamadou Djibo, who dived low to his right to preserve the victory.
Kudus’s miss capped a frustrating campaign for the Black Stars, who ended their qualifiers without a win.
Sudan Hold Angola to Secure Qualification
In the other Group F match, Sudan’s defensive resilience against group leaders Angola proved decisive.
Angola dominated possession and created several chances, but Sudan’s defense, led by Bakhit Khamis and goalkeeper Mohamed Al Mustafa, held firm.
The match ended in a 0-0 stalemate, a result that secured Sudan’s passage to the AFCON finals with eight points from their six matches.
Angola, unbeaten throughout the qualifiers, showcased their strength once again.
The Palancas Negras finished the group stage with 14 points, confirming their status as one of the tournament favorites heading into Morocco 2025.
Sudan join Angola as the two qualifiers from Group F for the 24-team tournament to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
For Sudan, this marks a return to the continental stage, while Angola will aim to build on their impressive qualifying campaign.
Group F Standings After Matchday 6:
- Angola – 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses)
- Sudan – 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses)
- Niger – 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses)
- Ghana – 3 points (0 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses)
