The Black Stars head into another competition with many having doubts about the team’s chances of lifting the trophy in Abidjan
Ghana coach Chris Hughton is under immense pressure to deliver as the Black Stars head into 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with many absentees and minor injuries.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Teye Partey, Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey and Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana have been ruled out of the tournament after failing to recover from the treatment room which has left Hughton to deal with those available.
West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus arrived late in camp and could only train with the team once as well as missing the only friendly game against Namibia at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
However, captain Andre Remi Morgan Dede Ayew is available and fully fit to start against Cape Verde on Sunday night. Ayew would be making history on Sunday as he mark his eight appearances at different Afcon competitions since making his debut in 2008, missing only the 2013 edition.
Ayew, with 34 games, will also be edging closer to another history as he is only three games away from becoming the most capped player at the competition together with Rigobert Song who is now in charge of Cameroon as the coach.
Although, Cape Verde aren’t a force in African football, their recent crop of players look set to make names for themselves.
Cape Verde don’t boast of household names kr superstars but their collective nature in games make them a formidable side. Even in the qualifiers prior to this tournament, the Blue Sharks had eight different goalscorers in their games. In a team where everyone could man up and become the hero at any point in time, Chris Hughton and his Black Stars should be weary of their opponents.
Having qualified to the round of 16 in the previous Afcon, where Ghana finished their group at the bottom, Cape Verde could prove a hard nut to crack especially since they don’t have any injury concerns in camp.
Ghana predicted XI vs Cape Verde:
Richard Ofori; Alidu Seidu, Nicholas Opoku, Daniel Amartey, Gideon Mensah; Abdul Samed, Baba, Mohamed Kudus; Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo
Cape Verde predicted XI vs Ghana:
Vozinha; Semedo, Borges, Pico, Stopira; Rocha, Costa, Monteiro; Mendes, Rodrigues, Bebe
Time: 20:00 GMT
Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan
