Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars have begun final preparations for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for Cote d’Ivoire this month.
The official website of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) reports that 24 players out of the 27-man squad reported for the first training in the second-largest city of Ghana.
Officials had initially planned to camp the team in South Africa before moving to Cote d’Ivoire for the tournament, but many Ghanaian soccer fans disagreed with that decision forcing the GFA and the technical handlers of the Black Stars to choose Kumasi as the pre-tournament camping base for the Stars.
Ghana’s preparations for the tournament have been hampered by injuries as coach Chris Hughton named his final squad without deputy captain and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey who is still recovering from an injury.
Apart from Partey, there were other notable absentees like Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey, Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Baba Rahman of Greek Super League club PAOK as well as Joseph Aidoo of Spanish Club Celta Vigo.
Meanwhile, GFA President Kurt Okraku has called on the entire nation to support the Black Stars during the tournament.
“My plea to all of us is that once the squad is announced, the entire nation must get behind the squad.
“Let’s get behind the squad, let us leave behind all the pre-announcement discussions, and as Ghanaians, let’s push and put our weight behind the men who have been picked to go to Cote d’Ivoire to fight for glory for our dear country”, he pleaded.
The Stars will next week engage the Namibia national team in a fine-tuning exercise before they leave for Cote d’Ivoire.
Ghana is seeking to end the 41-year trophy drought and will compete in Group B alongside record African champions Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. The Stars will open their group stage campaign against Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
