Sudan’s assistant coach, Ignatius Osei Fosu, has expressed concerns over substandard training conditions ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Ghana on Thursday. Speaking in a pre-match interview, Fosu revealed that the quality of the facilities provided for their training sessions has hindered their preparation for the high-stakes clash.
Although the team’s overall build-up to the game has been steady, the condition of the training pitch at St. Thomas Aquinas School has left much to be desired.
Preparations have not been bad, but our only problem has been with the training pitch,” Fosu explained.
It’s not been the best, but we’ll take it like that,” he added, clearly unimpressed with the surface provided for the squad’s practice.
Sudan is scheduled to face the Black Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium, but Fosu’s worries extend beyond the training ground.
He expressed apprehension about the state of the matchday pitch, fearing it may affect the quality of play.
We’ve not trained at the Accra Stadium yet, but what we were given at St. Aquinas is not good.
If the pitch at Accra is anything close to what was given us at St Aquinas, then we are going to see some awful football,” he warned.
Despite these setbacks, the Sudanese coaching staff is determined to make the best of the situation and remain focused on delivering a strong performance against Ghana.
Both teams are eager to secure a victory, with Ghana aiming to continue their strong campaign while Sudan fights to stay competitive in the AFCON qualifiers.
Fosu’s remarks underscore the importance of pitch conditions, which can significantly impact the fluidity of play and the tactical execution of both sides.
With Sudan already facing the formidable challenge of taking on a well-prepared Ghanaian side, concerns over the quality of the playing surface may add another layer of difficulty for the North African team.
Thursday’s game at the Accra Sports Stadium promises to be a fiercely contested match, with both teams aware of the stakes as they aim to move closer to securing their place in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
The poor conditions highlighted by Fosu could prove to be an unexpected factor that influences the style of play and possibly the outcome of this crucial encounter.
