The Black Stars will be looking to get off to a flying start when they kick off their qualifying campaign with a home game against Baria
Ghana will begin their quest to reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast when they face Madagascar in their first group game at Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
The Black Stars are grouped in group F of the qualifiers with Baria, the Central African Republic and Angola. After helping the Black Stars qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the expense of Nigeria, former Borussia Dortmund defender Otto Ado will take charge of the team.
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However, the Black Stars haven’t enjoyed a string of good results in recent months as they haven’t won a win in their last six matches. Their last victory in all competitions came on November 14, 2021, when they beat South Africa 1-0 in a controversial World Cup qualifier.
During the match at Cape Coast Stadium, Senegalese referee Ndiaye Maguette awarded a controversial penalty around Andre Ayew, prompting Safa to report the incident to FIFA and contest the result.
However, the appeal was later rejected by the world governing body, with the Black Stars qualifying for the playoffs.
Since then, in the last six matches, they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Algeria in a friendly match and then headed to the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where they lost 1- 0 against Morocco in the opening match. , and drew 1-1 with Gabon and suffered a surprise 3-2 loss to Comoros to exit the competition in the group stage.
Ghana then played with the Super Eagles in the African qualifiers for Qatar where they drew 0-0 in the first leg in Kumasi and traveled to Abuja where they drew 1-1 to qualify on away goals base.
Meanwhile, Barea’s side have also had a poor run of results, winning only once in their last six matches in all competitions.
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Ghana will be without influential midfielder Thomas Partey, who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury while playing for Premier League side Arsenal in their match against Crystal Palace April 4.
Other injured players, Joseph Ido and Andy Yadom, are expected to miss. However, the Black Stars have been bolstered by the presence of Ayo captain Benjamin Tetteh who will return to the squad after missing the play-off against Nigeria through suspension.
Coach Addo also has Bristol City striker Antoine Semenu at his disposal who could make his debut, while Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew is also in the squad.
Meanwhile, Madagascar, led by interim coach Eric Rapisandratana, will have to spend the game away without Marco Elimaharitra and Roman Mitanere, who have been left out due to injuries.
Match preview
This will be the first meeting between the stars of Black and Baria in CAN history. However, they met once in a competitive game, in the Four Nations Championship held in 2003 where they drew 3-3.
While Ghana are winless in their last six matches, Madagascar have won by the same number, after beating Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the World Cup qualifier on October 10, 2021. , at the municipal stadium of Mahamasina.
Before beating DR Congo, they lost three consecutive matches in the same qualifiers – 1-0 to Benin, 3-2 to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam and 2-0 to DR Congo.
In their last two matches, both World Cup qualifiers, Madagascar lost 2-0 to Benin and drew 1-1 against Tanzania at home.
After playing against Madagascar, the Black Stars will leave in the second round of the game against the Central African Republic on June 5 at the 11 de Novembro stadium while Baria will return home to host Angola at the Mahamasina municipal stadium.
