With both sides seeking to bounce back from respective defeats last time out, Ghana welcome Zimbabwe to the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The home side suffered a 1-0 loss against South Africa on September 6, while the visitors were beaten 1-0 by Ethiopia the following day.
Match preview
Off the back of an opening-day victory over Ethiopia, Ghana had the opportunity to open up an advantage at the top of Group G which they failed to utilise.
The contest was level as the game entered into its final knockings only for Bongokuhle Hlongwane to sink Milovan Rajevac’s men in Johannesburg with an 83rd-minute strike.
That defeat saw the Black Stars fall one point behind the Bafana Bafana in what is set to be a frenetic battle for a place in Qatar next year.
The west Africans now seek an immediate response against a Zimbabwe side who have lost three of the last six meetings between the teams.
Saturday’s hosts, who are unbeaten in their last six matches on home turf since a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Mali in 2020, will be confident of coming away with all three points in this one.
Zimbabwe more than gave a good account of themselves in their meeting with Ethiopia, which was decided right at the death thanks to a penalty from Aschalew Tamene.
Norman Mapeza’s men, who were unlucky not to have come out on top against South Africa in the opening round, were left cursing their luck once again.
The Warriors are the only side in the group yet to record a victory and unsurprisingly, they currently sit bottom after the first two matchdays.
Saturday’s visitors have also failed to find the back of the net in that time and will need to get going at the attacking end in order to turn a corner.
Brendan Galloway still awaits his national-team debut, but it is highly unlikely that the defender will feature for this weekend’s visitors.
Mapeza is expected to stick with his regular 4-2-3-1 system with skipper Knowledge Musona, who has scored more goals for his nation than any other active player, leading the way in attack.
Richard Ofori was in goal for Ghana against South Africa but his omission this time around leaves the door open for Lawrence Ati-Zigi to record his eighth cap.
Mohammed Kudus has recovered from a groin injury which saw him ruled out of the last international break and the Ajax midfielder will be raring to make up for the lost time on the sidelines.
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati-Zigi; G.Mensah, Djiku, J.Mensah, Amartey; Fameyeh, Partey, Ashimeru, Yeboah; J.Ayew, A.Ayew
Zimbabwe possible starting lineup:
Arubi; Mudimu, Bhasera, Hadebe, Darikwa; Chikwende, Nakamba, Sarupinda, Billiat, Mutizwa; Musona
Prediction
We say: Ghana 2-0 Zimbabwe
Playing on home turf, the onus is more on Ghana to take the game to their opponents and come away with the victory, and while Zimbabwe have shown that they are no pushovers, we fancy Ghana to emerge victorious in this one.
