AFCON 2021Q: We lost to a better side - CK Akonnor

Black Stars coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has admitted Sudan were the better side on Tuesday in the AFCON 2021 qualifying match.

The Black Stars visited the Al-Hilal Stadium in Omdurman yesterday looking for a win to secure early qualification to the next edition of the continent’s flagship tournament.

But any hopes of CK Akonnor's charges booking an early qualification were dashed by Mohamed Abdel Rahman who scored the only goal to earn his outfit the maximum points.

The striker connected home from a cross in the 92nd to delay Ghana's qualification. 

READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Sudan snatches late win against Black Stars

A win or draw would have been enough to secure Ghana's qualification to the AFCON with two games to spare but the team will now have to wait for the next round of qualifiers when they face South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March

Speaking to media after the game, Akonnor said the Sudanese wanted the win more. 

 

"I think in all we did well, we lost to a team that showered more anger than us not because we didn't want to do anything to win. Of course, we wanted to win but if I look at the way we played in Ghana and the way we played here (Omdurman) I feel there is a bit of improvement in terms of containing pressure and all that." 

The North Africans now move to 6 points following the 1-0 win in Omdurman on Tuesday afternoon. The 1-0 defeat throws Group C wide open with South Africa – Ghana’s next opponents – moving to nine points after back-to-back wins over Sao Tome.