AFCON2021
Ghana to face Comoros tonight in crucial Group C match at AFCON 2021
Team News
No COVID -19 cases have been recorded in the Black Stars camp so far.
David Abagna will miss the match after sustaining a toe injury in training.
Baba Iddrisu, who left the Stars' last game against Gabon with a limp, is also out for today's game.
Edmund Addo will most likely replace him in the lineup.
Fatawu Issahaku, who made a cameo appearance in the first two group games, could make his first start in the AFCON tonight.
Philemon Baffour could play his first game for the Black Stars as a replacement for Andy Yiadom on the right side of the defense.
Captain Andre Ayew and striker Jordan Ayew are also expected to remain in the XI, as is Thomas Partey, who has played a poor tournament so far.
Ajax star Kudus Mohammed will miss the match as he has yet to join the team in Cameroon.
PREVIEW
If the Black Stars' last match against Gabon was called a must-win, today's match against Comoros is an absolute must-win.
Milovan Rajevac's side had hoped to clinch a place in the last 16 before their third group game when the AFCON groups were announced.
On the other hand, if the Black Stars needed a win to secure a place in the next round, Comoros would certainly have been the preferred opponent.
Comoros, who on paper came into AFCON 2021 as the weakest team in Group C, have lived up to that label, losing their first two matches.
The Black Stars go into the game very confident of getting a win, but confidence does not always translate to results.
Despite the defeats, Comoros did not let themselves get rattled in the games against Gabon and Morocco. Even though they are the heavy underdogs against Ghana, they will certainly fancy their chances against a Black Stars side that is struggling to get into a good rhythm at AFCON 2021.
Ghana has scored just one goal in Cameroon so far - a strike from Andre Ayew against Gabon - and their defeat to Morocco and heartbreaking draw with Gabon can be attributed to their failure to create and convert enough clear-cut chances.
The Black Stars could pull off a win tonight, but the three points will not guarantee qualification.
Ghanaians are now used to relying on "calculations" to get them through the group stage of competitions, but exposing them to even more uncertainty when trying to "bring back the love" may not be the best move.
All eyes should be on Milovan Rajevac's boys tonight, but I imagine a few eyes will be darting back and forth in the other groups to make sure it was not all for naught.
WHAT THEY SAID
Black Stars head coach, Milovan Rajevac
“It’s 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.”
Black Stars defender, Jonathan Mensah
“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.”
Comoros head coach, Amir Abdou
“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.”
Comoros head coach, Said Bakari
“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.”
Stats
Ghana
- The Black Stars have won five of their last 12 matches
- They have also lost four and drawn three in that time.
- Ghana has scored 11 goals in their last 12 matches and conceded 10
- The Black Stars have won just one of their last six group stage games at the Africa Cup of Nations (D2 L2).
- Ghana has only won one of their last eight Africa Cup of Nations games (D4 L3), failing to score in half of those matches.
- The Black stars last failed to progress from their AFCON group in 2006.
- Nine of Ghana’s last 13 goals (70%) at the Africa Cup of Nations have been scored by brothers André (5) or Jordan (4) Ayew
Comoros
- 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).
- Comoros are searching for their first goal at AFCON 2021, having failed to score against Gabon and Morocco
Head to head
- This will be the first encounter between Ghana and Comoros at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- The Black Stars have played against Comoros twice.
- Comoros has never beaten the Black Stars while Ghana has won one of their two encounters.
- Comoros has never scored against Ghana but conceded twice against the Black Stars in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in 2015.
Kick-Off: 19:00 GMT (7pm Ghana) (21:00 CAT)
Venue: Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua