Michael Essien sends message to Black Stars players ahead of Sudan clash

Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien

Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien has sent a goodwill message to the Black Stars ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan.

The Black Stars will take on Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium in the third game of the qualifying series in what has been termed a must-win game for Ghana.

Ahead of the match, Michael Essien took to social media platforms to send a message to the team, urging them to go all out for victory.

“Let's go boys, all the best today and good luck,” Michael Essien posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Ahead of the game, coach Otto Addo has named West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus as the skipper of the side.

Otto Addo noted that the forward has been very instrumental and shown leadership qualities, hence the decision to award him the captaincy role.

“Mohammed Kudus will captain the Black Stars against Sudan,” he said during the pre-match press conference on October 9, 2024, as reported by Joy Sports.

The decision was made following the absence of substantive captain Andre Dede Ayew, who was called up to join the squad, and also his deputy Thomas Partey, who could not join the team due to injury.

The decision has triggered a reaction from Prince Tagoe, who has hailed Kudus for the progress he has made so far.

“I think we have a game, and we don't want to say certain things. That is not really important. All that we want is for us to win our game today so that we can discuss the role of the captaincy.

“Because from the time I think Stephen Appiah stopped playing for the Black Stars, I think the captaincy has had a little bit of a problem, but I don't want to go into it as of now. I hope, whilst he [Kudus] is the captain for the day, he is going to put his weight in and know that the team right now will be looking at him. So, I'm sure victory will come,” he told 3Sports.