Ghana’s Black Stars Coach Charles Akonnor will target a win for his side when they face-off against the Atlas Lions of Morocco in an international friendly match on Tuesday.
Both countries last met at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, with Ghana prevailing 2-0 on home soil to progress to the quarter-finals.
Morocco who are hosting this fixture approach it with revenge high on their agenda, as they also ready their team for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations Tournament.
Their agenda is similar to that of Ghana Coach, Charles Akonnor. The former national team captain who has little experience at the helms of affairs has been tasked to build a formidable side capable of ending the country’s trophy drought that has lasted since last triumphing at the AFCON tournament in 1982.
Ghana topped their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group, and qualified alongside Sudan from Group C to next year’s finals.
However Akonnor’s job has been less satisfactory for Ghanaian football fans who always demand more and better from the senior national football team.
As Coach, he had his debut delayed until October 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. His first game culminated in a 3-0 loss to Mali. Subsequently, three wins in five games since, has forecasted gradual improvement, but there is a feeling that Ghana are still playing a long way from their potential.
Getting a win over a Moroccan side tagged as one of the favorites for the upcoming AFCON showpiece will be a confidence booster for Coach Akonnor and also help his team building process for the tournament in Cameroon next year.
Morocco are currently coached by former Yugoslavia international Vahid Halilhodzic. The former Ivory Coast and Algeria head coach took charge of the Atlas Lions in 2019 and has recorded an impressive win rate of 50%, having lost only one of his 12 matches in charge so far.
He successfully guided the side to finish top of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group to reach next January’s finals in Cameroon.
The Atlas Lions have lined up a couple of testing friendlies against Ghana and Burkina Faso, as they look to successfully close the season ahead of the African World Cup qualifiers beginning in September.
HEAD TO HEAD
Morocco have not beaten Ghana in three attempts since the turn of the century.
The two sides have clashed on 10 previous occasions and Morocco have a marginally better record.
The Atlas Lions have four wins to their name, while Ghana were victorious in three matches. Three previous games between the sides ended in a draw.
FORM GUIDE
Morocco are in fine form and are currently on a 17-game unbeaten run. Thirteen games in this sequence ended in a victory for the North Africans. Ghana have won three of their last six games.
Morocco form guide: W-D-W-W-W
Ghana form guide: W-D-L-W-W
TEAM NEWS
Ghana’s attacking burden will fall on the Ayew Brothers (Jordan and Andre) who are expected to get starts in the game. The likes of Kudus Mohammed and Samuel Owusu are expected to provide support in advanced roles for Ghana.
The Black Stars will be without the services of influential players like Thomas Partey, Wakaso Mubarak while winger Frank Acheampong will also miss this game after being given some time off following the burial of his mother last week.
Goalkeeper Razak Abalora is expected to start in place of the injured number one Richard Ofori.
Brentford winger Tariqe Fosu will sit out this game after reporting to camp late.
Latest camp news indicates Gladson Awako is an injury doubt after hobbling off in the team’s last training session in Rabat.
Ghana’s travelling contingent comprised:
Goalkeepers: Razak Abalora, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Ibrahim Danlad
Defenders: Gideon Mensah, Andy Yiadom, Philemon Baffuor, Daniel Amartey, Joseph Agyei, Nicholas Opoku, Ismail Ganiyu, Alexander Djiku, Baba Abdul Rahman
Midfielders: Emmanuel Lomotey, Kudus Mohammed, Baba Idrissu, Moro Salifu, Gladson Awako, Rashid Nortey, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
Strikers: Andre Ayew, Emmanuel Gyasi, Kwame Opoku, Joel Fameyeh, Jordan Ayew, Samuel Owusu.
Ghana Predicted XI: Razak Abalora (GK), Andy Yiadom, Baba Rahman, Daniel Amartey, Nicholas Opoku, Alexander Djiku, Baba Idrissu, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, Samuel Owusu, Jordan Ayew
Morocco Predicted XI:
Yassine Bounou (GK); Achraf Hakimi, Jawad El Yamiq, Romain Saiss, Achraf Lazaar; Adel Taarabt, Yahya Jabrane, Ilias Chair; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Munir El Haadadi