Ghana

A 96th-minute winner from Sadio Mane earned Senegal a 1-0 win over Malawi and a place at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next year, but Ghana are in serious danger of missing out after a surprise loss to Sudan on Tuesday.

ESPN has the definitive explainer on everything you need to know about Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, including the AFCON table, standings, rules and schedule.

Wasteful Ghana were held to a 0-0 home draw by Sudan in Africa Cup of Nations qualification on Thursday to leave them in a perilous position midway through the campaign, but several sides edged closer to the finals in Morocco late next year.

From unforgettable debuts to African heavyweights being humbled, here's the current state of affairs across the continent following the first international break of the 2024-25 season.

The international break was an intriguing one for Africa's team as they hunt for 2026 World Cup qualification, with Nigeria doing themselves no favours, Morocco doing the most, and a Gabon return for Aubameyang.

Nigeria vs Ghana is always a highly-anticipated match up, and on Friday two new coaches, Finidi George and Otto Addo, will be looking to cement their contracts with a 'friendly' win.

Former Ghana international and Borussia Dortmund talent coach Otto Addo will reclaim the head coaching job for the Black Stars, on a 34-month contract, at the end of the current Bundesliga season.

Gareth Southgate is considering fast-tracking Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo through the England ranks as interest in the teenager intensifies from Ghana, sources have told ESPN.

Seriously, who'd be an AFCON manager?! The past week has seen a glut of firings as big teams have fallen by the wayside, and six teams need new managers. Zidane to Algeria, perhaps? Jurgen Klopp would do well with Ghana...

Inevitably, at each Africa Cup of Nations, some of the continent's biggest names are missing for a whole array of reasons. Let's catch up on what some of these absent stars have been doing in the meantime.