"AFCON 2021: Ghana v Comoros Preview; Black Stars must shine bright or dim forever\u00a0"

" \n AFCON 2021: Ghana v Comoros Preview; Black Stars must shine bright or dim forever\u00a0 \n \n\n \n After a disappointing start to their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 campaign that saw gathering a lone point in two games, Ghana is hoping to avoid an early exit when they face debutants Comoros, who in turn have lost their first two games as well. \n \n\n \n A lone point from two games is not what Ghana was looking for but the Stars still have time to respond as they have their destiny in their own hands.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n The Stars must shine against Comoros or go dim forever as the country will not forgive them for any results other than a convincing win.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Skipper Andre Ayew before the start of the tournament said they will fight with their last blood and there is no other critical time such as this to do so if he and his teammates want to avoid an embarrassing exit. \n \n\n \n Ghana has shown a characteristic of conceding late goals in the last three games including the international friendly with Algeria where they lost 3-0, followed by the AFCON group C opener 1-0 loss to Morocco and the 1-1 draw against Gabon. \n \n\n \n In fact, the Black Stars considered themselves unfortunate not to have claimed all three points against Gabon as they at least deserved, because Gabon did not take into play Fair Play resulting in the late goal. \n \n\n \n But Ghanaians don\u2019t care about ifs and buts and the pressure has been ramped up on the head coach, Milovan Rajevac, and a number of players ahead of tonight\u2019s match. \n \n\n \n Thomas Partey bore the brunt of the criticism from the last game, as the Arsenal man expected to carry the weight of Ghana\u2019s attacking intent, largely failed to threaten the Gabon backline despite making an assist. \n \n\n \n Even Dede Ayew, who is the captain on the team, did not escape the finger-pointing, largely due to a pass he didn't return to Joseph Paintsil which could have resulted in a goal to seal all three points for Ghana. \n \n\n \n Despite the high stakes of today\u2019s match, there\u2019s a feeling of ease around Ghana\u2019s camp. Comoros can cause an upset as we've seen teams like Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea do but they are certainly not an opposition the Black Stars should not be able to beat on a good day, and the team knows it. \n \n\n \n The trouble is, the Black Stars haven\u2019t had too many good days in recent months but a win is expected and perhaps more critically required tonight for the Black Stars and else they are out of the AFCON. \n \n\n \n This will be the first encounter between Ghana and the Comoros at the Africa Cup of Nations. \n \n\n \n Comoros who are making their debut at the Africa Cup of Nations will be aiming to get something to cheer at with perhaps their first goal at the continental showpiece and a win to spice things up. \n \n\n \n It has been nothing but a baptism of fire for Comoros, who have endured a horrid debut appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations. \n \n\n \n Having booked their place in the tournament when they finished runners-up to Egypt with nine points from six qualification games, Les Coelecantes fell to a 1-0 defeat against Gabon in their opening game courtesy of Aaron-Salem Boupendza's 16th-minute strike. \n \n\n \n This was followed by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of high-flying Morocco on Thursday, when Selim Amallah and Zakaria Aboukhlal scored in either half to send the Atlas Lions through to the knockout stages. \n \n\n \n Amir Abdou's men have now lost all but one of their last five games across all competitions since March 2021, with a 7-1 victory over Seychelles on November 1 being the only exception. \n \n\n \n Comoros are rooted to the bottom of Group C and while they will now look to bow out on a high, next up is a significantly-superior Ghana side who they failed to defeat in their previous two encounters. \n \n\n \n Team News\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Ghanaian forward Benjamin Tetteh is out of contention for Tuesday's game after receiving his marching orders a few minutes after coming off the bench against Gabon on Friday. \n \n\n \n Iddrisu Baba and David Abagna Sandan are out of Ghana's match squad after picking up injuries. \n \n\n \n Comoros head into the game with a full matchday squad as there are no health and suspension concerns. . \n \n\n \n Red Star Belgrade man El Fardou Ben should retain his spot as the lone striker, as Ibroihim Djoudja and Ahmed Mogni push for starting roles in attack. \n \n\n \n Possible Line up\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Ghana - Joojo Wollacot, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, Andrew Kyereh, Baba Rahman, Thomas Partey, Kofi Kyereh, Joseph Paintsil, Sulemana Kamaldeen, Jordan Ayew, Dede Ayew \n \n\n \n Comoros - Ahamada; Abdallah, M'dahoma, Zahary, Bakari; Youssouf, Mohamed; Djoudja, Mogni, M'Changama; Ben \n \n\n \n What they said\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Milovan Rajevac, head coach of Ghana \n \n\n \n \"It\u2019s a very important game for us. We need to finish the group with a win and will do everything to guarantee this happening. Our team develops well but we need time and patience.\" \n \n\n \n Jonathan Mensah, defender, Ghana \n \n\n \n \"We will give our best because this is a must win for us. We have no internal problems. All the games are difficult. As a veteran player my role is to help the new faces. We will fight for our national jersey.\" \n \n\n \n Amir Abdou, head coach of Comoros\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \"The game is very important for us. We had two good games against Gabon and Morocco, but luck was not on our side. I told the players to consider this as if it was the final. Ghana is a very good team, but we will do our best. We have nothing to lose, and we must be strong and brave.\" \n \n\n \n Said Bakari, forward, Comoros \n \n\n \n \"We will give our all. We need to play more competitions like this and increase our experience. This is the greatest event we have been to. We will show the good side of Comoros.\" \n \n\n \n Match Facts\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ghana has only won one of their last eight Africa Cup of Nations games (D4 L3), failing to score in half of those matches. \n \n\n \n \u25cf Comoros could become the fifth team to fail to score a single group stage goal in their debut Africa Cup of Nations tournament, after Burundi (2019), Gabon (1994), Sierra Leone (1994) and Mozambique (1986). \n \n\n \n \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ghana has just one point so far in this year\u2019s edition (D1 L1) \u2013 they\u2019ve never failed to win at least one group stage match in all their previous 22 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Black stars last failed to progress from their AFCON group in 2006. \n \n\n \n \u25cf Nine of Ghana\u2019s last 13 goals (70%) at the Africa Cup of Nations have been scored by brothers Andr\u00e9 (5) or Jordan (4) Ayew. After netting his 10th AFCON goal against Gabon, Andr\u00e9 Ayew is looking to score in consecutive matches in the competition for the first time. \n \n\n \n Prediction\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Ghana 2-0 Comoros \n "

"AFCON 2021: Ghana v Comoros Preview; Black Stars must shine bright or dim forever\u00a0"

Full Story: SML Disguised at Kotoka International AirportAMP

Petrol Price Records Marginal Increase at Pumps as Diesel, LPG DeclineAMP

How New Data Standards Will Transform Our Understanding of the Global EconomyAMP