Black Stars captain, Dede Ayew
The Black Stars begin yet another search for continental glory in this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they take on their Moroccan counterparts (Atlas Lions) in their Group C fixture in Yaounde, Cameroon today.
The biennial football bonanza kicked-off yesterday after multiple postponements, with host Cameroon opening the month-long football festival with Burkina Faso. Ethiopia battled Cape Verde but results were not available at press time.
And for the many Ghanaian football lovers, the Stars 0-3 humbling scoreline in their friendly game against Algeria has cast doubts among students of the game; questioning the Stars’ readiness for the showpiece.
But coach of the side, Milovan Rajevac has given the assurance that the test game against the North Africans in Qatar few days ago where they pitched camp for close to three weeks offered him the opportunity to put his house in order ahead of the competition.
To him, between the time of the Algeria game and today is enough to prove his side’s worth.
The Serbian trainer said after the test game: “At the AFCON, we will have the ability to play against some of the big teams like Morocco and Gabon. We have the opportunity to get to know the teams even better. But time is on our side for more matches, and we will do much better at the AFCON.”
The Stars left their Qatari base last Friday for the West African country, and indications are that the team is in the best of shapes ahead of today’s Atlas Lions clash.
In other games today, Senegal will face Zimbabwe, while Guinea battle Malawi. Comoros will take on Gabon in another Group C clash.
The tournament’s 52 matches will take place at six venues spread across the central African country.
From Kofi Owusu Aduonum, Yaoundé