Ghana Black Stars deputy skipper Andre Ayew has emphasized that the 2019 AFCON in Egypt will be tough as compared to previous editions.

Ayew admitted that the increment in participation countries will have a toll on the players as they will not have enough time to rest during the tournament.

“Now the format has changed, we will have 24 teams as compared to the other editions. After the Group stages, we will play the one-sixteenth before the quarter finals. Unlike the past editions that we can have like five-days rest, it will not be possible in this edition.” Ayew told the Press on Tuesday.

“We have a very good team, we just have to be focused, keep pushing and take it game by game. We deserve to win the trophy, in recent years we have been to the finals twice and it was not by chance.”

Ayew has been to five AFCON’s since making his debut for Ghana in the tournament in 3008 against Guinea.