Kwesi Appiah, Sudan head coach is hoping that his team qualifies for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations alongside his native Ghana.

The draw on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, partnered Sudan and the Black Stars in Group E, which means the former Ghana coach will return to his home country to play against the Black Stars.

Speaking after the draw was confirmed, Appiah expressed optimism that he hopes to see the two nations secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON, which is set to be hosted in Morocco.

“I’ve always said there [are] no minnows in football now,” he told 3 Sports.

“It is really important that any team you meet, you prepare very well and make sure you have the right team to try and win the day.

“Personally, I also think and hope Ghana and Sudan qualify in that group. For now, I think that is what I can say and I wish both teams the best,” he added.

Kwesi Appiah coach the Black Stars twice; the first stint between 2012 and 2014 and the second from 2017 to 2019.

His Sudan team is currently top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying Group B with ten points, two ahead of Senegal

Ghana was among the 12 seeded teams in Pot 1 heading into the draw as a result of being among the 12 highest-ranked nations based on the latest FIFA Rankings.

Ranked the 12th best team in Africa following impressive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in recent World Cup qualifiers, the Black Stars drew Angola (ranked 20th) from pot 2, Sudan (ranked 33rd) from pot 3 and Niger (ranked 37th).

Other pairings

The draw produced 12 groups of four teams each (Groups A to L) who will be aiming to qualify for the 35th edition of the biennial Africa showpiece in an attempt to dethrone coach Emerse Fae’s Cote d’Ivoire as continental kings.

Fae – one of the two draw assistants together with Morocco legend Marouane Chamakh – saw his side placed in a tricky group as they bid to defend their title.

Cote d’Ivoire are the defending champions after defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the continent’s flagship sports competition in Abidjan earlier this year. The Elephants were placed in Group G where they will play former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad.

Hosts Morocco were placed in Group B where they will take on Gabon, Central African Republic and Lesotho. Morocco will approach this qualifying campaign with less pressure since they are already assured of participating in the competition on home ground.

Record seven-time AFCON champions Egypt were drawn in Group C alongside Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana while this year’s losing finalists Nigeria have been paired with neighbours Benin, Libya and Rwanda.

In Group E, 2019 Champions Algeria will face Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia while Group H pits DR Congo against Guinea, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Mali will play Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Eswatini in Group I, five-time AFCON champions Cameroun will face Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe in Group J, 1996 winners South Africa will play Uganda, Congo and South Sudan in Group K while 2021 winners Senegal have been drawn with Burkina Faso, Malawi and Burundi in Group L.

The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.

The first and runners-up in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will gain qualification to the competition.

Groups:Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho 
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda 

Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi