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Depleted Ghana squad prepares to face Uganda

FILE PHOTO: Ghana’s forward Andre Ayew celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Ghana and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 17, 2017. He is one of the stars Ghana will miss this weekend.

▶️ Uganda vs Ghana Oct 7 ▶️ Egypt vs Congo Oct 7 ▶️ Congo vs Uganda Nov 6 ▶️ Ghana vs Egypt Nov 6

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Ghana’s Black Stars left Kenya on Thursday for Uganda ahead of the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier in the Ugandan capital Kampala at the weekend.

The Ghanaians arrived in the Kenyan capital this week for three days of acclimatisation training missing some of their top players who are out with injuries ahead of Saturday’s Group E clash.

But head coach James Kwesi Appiah is optimistic the team will rally to beat Uganda and keep alive hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Players that are in now, their confidence levels are rising slowly and for that reason I believe when they go out there, there’s not too much pressure on them,” Appiah said, adding the players will be looking to “express themselves” on the pitch.

Ghana will be without five first team regulars for the weekend match, including defender Harrison Afful and captain Asamoah Gyan, who led the team in its 5-1 demolition of Congo Brazzaville in their last World Cup qualifier.

Standings Group E

??EGY – 9pts

??UGA – 7pts

??GHA – 5pts

??CGO – 1

The coach has been forced to bring in five new players to the squad, all set to earn their first caps. They include midfielder Kingsley Sarfo of Swedish side Malmo, defender Vincent Atings of Ghana premier league’s Hearts of Oak and striker John Atwin of Egyptian side Misr Makkasa, all of whom trained with the team for the first time in Nairobi.

A win in Kampala is vital for the Black Stars — currently placed third in the group with five points from four matches — before their final qualifier against current leaders Egypt, at home in Accra on November 6.

Uganda, which is in second place with seven points will be without former Kenya-based midfielder Khalid Aucho and Murushid Jjuuko who are suspended.

Uganda warmed up for the game with a less than impressive performance against Madagascar, who won 2-1 at Lugogo.

Interim coach Moses Basena will however welcome back ace midfielder Tony Mawejje for a their make or break tie against Ghana’s Black Stars at Mandela Stadium.

7 comments

  1. i believe Uganda will win with 2-1in Jesus’s name

  2. Ghana will win by 3- 1 .

  3. Uganda wins by a goal difference

  4. Mohsen from Egypt

    “The coach has been forced to bring in five new players to the squad”!??Why he has been forced to do that?!Who forced him?!This is strange that Harrison Afful and captain Asamoah Gyan, who led the team in its 5-1 demolition of Congo Brazzaville are not playing in Kampala City!
    I think that Uganda will win 1-0 or even 2-0 as those new Ghananian players who are playing for the first time together will not be in harmony and will not understand each other,it will be a big risk from Ghana to play with new players in such important match.

    • Mohsen, Ghana don’t care anymore. We know we won/t qualify and since Eqypt has been tyo the world cup before, Ghana will make it easier for Uganda to go. However, we will beat Egypt in Ghana

  5. Uganda need to work hard Ghana is not an easy team although they miss key profile players.
    Basena the couch for the home side, need to kinly replace key players to up the role of jjuko and Aucho who have been suspended due to indispline cases.
    Ugandan need to make an early lead in order to hold Ghana up the 90th minute.

  6. Mohsen from Egypt

    Congratulations to Egypt for World Cup 2018 in Russia.Mohamed Salah and Essam El Hadary are heroes.Uganda you have a great team,good luck to you next time in Qatar 2022.

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