Ghana’s Black Stars are facing a major setback as eight players have withdrawn from the squad ahead of two pivotal matches in their bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Defender Gideon Mensah acknowledged the “big loss” of the absent players but expressed determination to secure vital wins against Angola and Niger.
The Black Stars will travel to Luanda to face Angola on November 15 before returning to host Niger at Accra Sports Stadium on November 18. With just two points from their last four matches, Ghana currently sits third in the standings and needs maximum points to stay in contention for the AFCON tournament in Morocco next year.
Reflecting on the importance of these matches, Mensah said, “The journey is not going to be smooth because we’ve come to a junction where we have to hope and work for ourselves. We are going to watch the game and see what will happen, but at the end of the day, the focus is to win six points.”
Ghana’s hopes also hinge on Sudan’s performance in the group, as the Black Stars need Sudan to falter against the same opponents to keep their qualification chances alive.
Preparation for the crucial qualifiers began on Monday, with the team expected to hold additional training sessions on Tuesday before departing for Angola on Wednesday.
Source:TheDotNews