Bafana Bafana's Group C rivals Ghana moved six points clear at the top after defeating Sudan 2-0 in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday night.

The Black Stars were without Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey due to injury but they had the Ayew brothers, Jordan and captain Andre leading the attack in the line-up, with newly-signed Orlando Pirates goalkeper Richard Ofori remaining in goal.

The hosts were threatening in the early stages and Andre Ayew eventually got the opener in the 19th minute with a cracking strike from a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Ghana came close to doubling their lead on the half-hour mark after Samuel Owusu carved space inside the box to have a shot at goal but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Ali Eshrein.

Andre Ayew thought he had made it 2-0 for Charles Akonnor's charges on the stroke of half-time after heading home Owusu's cross but the goal was disallowed for a foul inside the box.

The visitors were coming into the game in the early stages of the second stanza but despite pinning back Ghana in their own half they could not threaten Ofori.

The Black Stars were biding their time and Andre Ayew eventually secured the three points in the last ten minutes with another great strike for his brace and Ghana kept a perfect record at the top of Group C with a maximum of nine points, six points ahead of second-placed Bafana Bafana, who play Sao Tome and Principe on Friday night.