Matchday two of the 2023 African Nations Championship sees Ghana and Sudan face off in a crucial game at the Stade Chahid-Hamlaoui on Thursday.

Ghana will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat last time out, while Sudan seek a winning start to life at this year's CHAN.

Match preview

Sudan were awarded three goals and three points in what was supposed to be their opening CHAN outing against defending champions Morocco on Sunday.

Following the refusal of the Atlas Lions to show up, a 3-0 victory was ruled in favour of Burhan Tia's men in accordance with the competition's rules and regulation.

Fellow Group C counterparts Ghana and Sudan will also be handed a similar outcome in their clashes against Morocco, meaning that Sudan still have work to do in their remaining two matches.

Up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with just one loss in the last nine meetings between the teams, winning seven times in that period.

However, that solitary triumph did come in the most recent encounter back in 2020, when Sudan claimed a late 1-0 win en route to reaching the playoffs of the AFCON qualifiers.

Ghana were left red-faced as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against the Barea of Madagascar when the sides went head-to-head on Sunday evening.

Annor Walker's men found themselves two goals down to strikes from Koloina Razafidranaivo and Tsiry Randriantsiferana before Augustine Agyapong pulled one back.

Consequently, the Black Stars have now lost three of their four outings either side of the new year and have only managed to find the back of the net just once.

Currently in the last chance saloon to book their place in the latter stages of this year's African Nations Championship, Ghana now go in search of a much-needed three points with little margin for error.

Team News

Augustine Agyapong wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet five minutes after he was introduced as a substitute against Madagascar, which could see him handed a start here.

Daniel Afriyie is expected to retain his place in the XI despite enduring a frustrating day in front of goal last time out where the forward spurned two clear-cut chances.

With an impressive 20 international goals to his name in 37 appearances, Mohamed Abdelrahman is definitely one to keep an eye on for Sudan.

The 29-year-old, who scored the winner in his nation's last duel with Ghana, will be looking to deliver the goods once again as he has done on several occasions since making his debut in 2017.

Ghana possible starting lineup:
Danlad; Korsah, Yiadom, Adomako, Agyapong; Nsobila, Kasim, Abagna; Yusif, Afriyie, Awako

Sudan possible starting lineup:
Aboeshren; Elsadig, Hamza, Amjad, Ahmed; Abdelrazig, Kurdman, Elsamani; Mohamed, Waleed, Yasir

We say: Ghana 1-0 Sudan

Both teams have struggled for goals of late, so we are anticipating a drab affair with little goalmouth action. That said, we can also see Ghana just about edging out Sudan to all three points at the end of the 90 minutes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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