Sudan eyes Ghana's scalp

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – Sudan have set sights on victory against Ghana’s Black Stars in their ultimate 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next month to exclude themselves from the arithmetic calculations associated with the process.

The Desert Hawks, tied on 13 points with their Ghanaian counterparts will host the Black Stars in the final Group I fixture on October 7 in Omdurman in a game, the hosts needs nothing but the three points to go through but for which the Stars are also resolved to come up tops.


A score of draw will see the Stars qualify as group winners via head-to-head on the backdrop of a 0-0 draw from the reverse fixture in Kumasi, leaving the Sudanese to compete for the two best runners-up with the other teams.


It is in relation with this that Mutasim Gaafar, President of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) tells GNA Sports on phone that his outfit has targeted victory to shy away from the arithmetic involved in the determination process for the best runners-up spot.


“We have laid out an ambitious programme for the national team for the final qualifier with Ghana next month.


“After consultations with the technical team, we have settled on a schedule that will lead to victory to avoid the complex calculations,” Gaafar told GNA Sports.

The SFA President explained that plans are advanced to hold a training camping abroad and engage some top sides in friendlies.


“The players are very determined to achieve the results. We are keen on qualification and will do our best to reach there,” he concluded.


The Stars beat the Sudanese 2-0 when the two sides met in Omdurman in 2009.


Sudan, African champions in 1970 have participated at the flagship African football event six times; 1957, 1959, 1970, 1972, 1976 and 2008.