Ghana head coach Otto Addo has expressed his disappointment following the Black Stars' 1-0 defeat to Sudan in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

The loss has severely impacted Ghana’s qualification hopes, with Addo admitting it was a “bitter pill to take.”

Speaking to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) media team, Addo praised Sudan for their performance and acknowledged the efforts of Kwesi Appiah, Sudan’s coach and former Black Stars manager.

"Congratulations to Sudan. Coach Kwesi Appiah has always been a gentleman before and after the game. They did well," said Addo, adding that Sudan played with passion and deserved the win.

Reflecting on Ghana's performance, Addo admitted that his team struggled to meet expectations.

"I want to thank the team for at least trying, knowing that it was not good enough. We had a good talk afterward, and I had individual discussions with players to address specific issues and moments from the game," he explained.

The defeat hit the Black Stars hard, with Addo noting the emotional impact on the squad.

"Everybody was down; it was a really, really hard pill to take," he revealed.

Despite the setback, Addo remains optimistic about Ghana's chances of bouncing back and thanked his technical staff for their support.

"I want to use the opportunity to thank the whole technical staff for supporting me, even now after the game on our worst days, because surely, we as Ghana should qualify for AFCON," he stated.

Though the defeat was a major blow, Addo and his team are determined to regroup and continue their quest for qualification for the 2025 AFCON.