Ghana unleashes strong starting line-up to face Sudan – Wakaso, Schlupp start
Ghana coach Charles CK Akonnor has unleased Mubarak Wakaso and Jeffrey Schlupp in his crack starting line-up to face Sudan on Tuesday in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Ghanasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal. The Black Stars coach will also use two proven strikers in Caleb Ekuban and captain Jordan Ayew in his starting team, serving his intention of attacking the opponent even though they would be playing the match as visitors in Omdurman. True to the prediction of Ghana’s leading football news outfit, the Black Stars coach has named a largely changed starting team to face the Nile Crocodiles in Group C. Injuries to substantive captain Andre Ayew and winger Samuel Owusu has forced the coach to make some changes while augmenting the starting line-up with the arrival of the more experienced Wakaso and Schlupp. In-form St. Gallen FC goalie Lawrence Ati-Zigi has been given the nod to start between sticks ahead of returnee Fatau Dauda. Surprisingly, central defender Nicholas Opoku will play from the right-back while Baba Rahman maintains his place at the left side of the defence. John Boye and Alexander Djiku will also maintain their position at the centre of the defence while Wakaso will partner Afriyie Acquah in central midfield. This makes the Black Stars defence and midfield perhaps the strongest in recent times with several in-form or experienced players starting in the match. Tarique Fosu will also maintain his place on the right side of the midfield while Schlupp will play from his favourite position of the left side of midfield. Ekuban will play as the lone striker while Jordan Ayew will take the role of the playmaker to provide the needed threat to draw out the opponents who have been strong in defending. Ghana have a perfect record in the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and a victory for the Black Stars on Tuesday take them through to the tournament in Cameroon. The Black Stars defeated Sudan 2-0 in their previous fixture played in Cape Coast on Thursday with Andre Ayew scoring both goals in the game. Black Stars starting line-up Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Nicholas Opoku, Baba Rahman, John Boye, Alexander Djiku, Afriyie Acquah, Tarique Fosu Mubarak Wakaso, Caleb Ekuban, Jordan Ayew, Jeff Schlupp. Ghana soccernet Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
Baba Rahman is playing well, he deserves a call up – CK Akonnor
Black Stars coach, Charles Akonnor has given reasons for the inclusion of Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman in his squad for next month’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan. The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Real Mallorca, but his spell with the Spanish club was cut short by injuries. Ghana will next month, play two ties against Sudan in Cape Coast and Khartoum as the two teams will battle for a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament that has been moved to January 2022 because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to GFA news on Friday, Coach Akonnor says, Baba is currently playing well and deserves a place on the team. “Baba Rahman was once a regular player here; due to injury, he was taken out. Now he is back, he is fit, he is playing very well with his team. Unfortunately, he has not had the chance to play in the first team.” “But he has had a couple of friendly matches since August, September and even recently 24th October, which he played against Liverpool’s second team. And these matches, he has played 90 minutes, some are 90 minutes, a lot of 90 minutes and of course 70 minutes.” “So, we have taken a lot of consideration, looking at the fact that we have a little bit of weakness within that area, the full-backs so I thought it necessary to bring him to compete with Gideon on that side,” Akonnor added. ghanafa Please kindly contact apexnewsgh.com on apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications