Venue: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo – Yaounde, Cameroon
Time: 7:00PM (19:00GMT)
Date: Friday, January 14th 2022
The round one matches in the group stage 2021 AFCON ended yesterday. The round produced competitive games with a goal per match. Here we take a look at the round two encounters between Gabon and Ghana in Group C.
Already, Gabon and Morocco are leading with 3-3 points after recording their first victory during the opener in round one.
The group was opened with a clash between Ghana and Morocco, which the Ghanaians lost by a goal to nil. Gabon also won their opener with the same result over the AFCON debutants, Comoros.
The Panthers will be expecting another emphatic victory over the four-time champions to snatch the maximum points to keep their round of 16 qualifiers hopes alive. The Panthers could progress into the knockout stage if they beat Ghana.
For the four-time champions, they aim to grab their first three points in this game after suffering a slim defeat to the North African giants, Morocco to also look further for round 16 qualification.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides have met three times. Ghana with two wins to the one of Gabon.
Gabon recorded their first win over Ghana at home by a 2-0 scoreline in 2008 during the qualifications for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Black Stars also fought hard to beat the Panthers in Accra with the same scoreline in the same year.
In 2011, Ghana extended the winning margin after defeating the Panthers again in a friendly game by a 2-1 scoreline.
GABON’S LAST FIVE GAMES
The Panthers have won three out of their last five games with one defeat and one draw.
Gabon 2 – 0 Angola (WCQ)
Gabon 1 – 0 Libya (WCQ)
Egypt 2 – 1 Gabon (WCQ)
Mauritania 1 – 1 Gabon (Int. Friendly)
Comoros 0 – 1 Gabon (AFCON 2021)
GHANA’S LAST FIVE GAMES
The Black Stars of Ghana have won two of their last five matches and recorded two defeats with one draw.
Zimbabwe 0 – 1 Ghana (WCQ)
Ethiopia 1 – 1 Ghana (WCQ)
Ghana 1 – 0 South Africa (WCQ)
Algeria 3 – 0 Ghana (Int. Friendly)
Morocco 1 – 0 Ghana
TEAM NEWS
Due to COVID-19 Arsenal star, Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang and Mario Lemina will once again sit back for the Panther’s second encounter. The other players in camp are well prepared and belligerent to battle Ghana for another emphatic victory.
GHANA;
In Ghana’s camp, captain Andre Ayew is likely to lead the squad regardless of the fears of head injury and health status during the game against Morocco on Monday.
On other hand, there is a rumor that Ajax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus will be in the midfield alongside Partey of Arsenal but the Ghana FA is yet to confirm the midfielder’s arrival as expected to happen this week. Kudus is yet to play for both club and country since picking up a rib injury in November last year when he was featured against South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers.
Elsewhere, Dreams FC right, back Philemon Baffour who recently joined Portuguese side Rio Ave has also been training with the team but has yet to kick a ball in a competitive match.
The statistics are accurate. Regards