Ghana’s embattled head coach, Otto Addo, has stressed the urgency of a must-win situation as his team faces Sudan in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday, keeping their hopes for the 2025 finals alive.“We have to win,” said the 49-year-old coach, who is in his second spell leading the Black Stars, following a goalless draw at home against Sudan in their third-round Group F match.The four-time African champions struggled to convert several clear opportunities in Accra, leaving them seven points behind group leaders Angola and trailing Sudan by two at the halfway stage of qualifying.Firat speaks on Matasi’s errors against CameroonOnly the top two teams at the end of the sixth matchday in November will earn spots at the 24-team finals, a tournament Ghana last won in 1982 in Tripoli. The Black Stars have a long history in the competition, with their last failure to qualify occurring 21 years ago.Ghana’s crucial next match takes place in Benghazi, Libya, where Sudan is currently based due to the ongoing civil war that has made it impossible for them to host games on home soil.”Where we finish is in our hands,” emphasized Addo, referring to his squad led by West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus. The team will, however, miss Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, who is sidelined with an injury.Let’s take a look at five other pivotal matchday 4 qualifiers set for Monday and Tuesday, featuring teams like Tunisia looking to bounce back from a surprising loss to Comoros.##NAJAVA_MECA_8411627##Kenya v CameroonManchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was greeted like a hero in Uganda last month after a Group J encounter against Zimbabwe, who couldn’t host the match due to a lack of suitable facilities.However, Onana’s Ugandan fans won’t see him in action on Monday, as Kenya, after a 4-1 defeat in Yaoundé, will host the rematch behind closed doors in Kampala.Kenya’s choice to play without spectators is partly due to ongoing stadium renovations and aims to cut costs, ensure Onana’s safety, and prevent Ugandan fans from cheering for Cameroon.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412015##Libya v NigeriaNigeria’s caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, will be concerned after it took 86 minutes for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to secure a 1-0 win over Libya in their Group D match in Uyo.Even without injured star Victor Osimhen, Eguavoen had a wealth of attacking options, with all seven forwards playing for clubs in Europe’s top five leagues.However, despite the firepower, including Ballon d’Or contender Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles struggled to find the net and now face a tough test against Libya in a challenging Benghazi atmosphere.##NAJAVA_MECA_8409448##Mauritania v EgyptMauritania’s coach, Amir Abdou, was left baffled after Egypt’s Hossam Hassan criticized his team for playing a “physical and aggressive” game.“We committed fewer fouls than Egypt and received the same number of yellow cards (three),” Abdou told reporters after their 2-0 loss in Cairo, where Egypt leads Group C.Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who scored Egypt’s second goal, will miss the return match in Nouakchott, played on an artificial surface, as Hassan is keen to avoid risking injury to his captain.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412016##Congo v South AfricaSouth Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, cautioned his players that Congo Brazzaville would present a much tougher challenge at home after suffering a 5-0 defeat in their Group K clash.“The Congolese are technically strong and pose a serious threat when they play at home,” said the 72-year-old Belgian coach, who previously led Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017.Broos will hope for another standout performance from Teboho Mokoena, who shook off concerns about a lack of club minutes by scoring twice in their last match.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412018##Comoros v TunisiaThe standout surprise of matchday 3 came when Tunisia’s 16-game unbeaten streak in AFCON qualifiers ended with a 1-0 loss to Comoros.Rafiki Said, playing for Troyes in France’s second division, capped off a swift counterattack with a low finish into the corner midway through the second half.Comoros, ranked 82 places below Tunisia, lacks a stadium that meets international standards, and thus, the return fixture will take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital.##NAJAVA_MECA_8411629##
