Accra – Factfile on Ghana, who are in World Cup Group H:
Best World Cup performance: Quarter-finalists in 2010
Other honours: African champions in 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
FIFA ranking: 61
Main clubs: Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak
How they qualified: Ghana defeated Nigeria in a play-off
Coach: Former Ghana World Cup midfielder Otto Addo, 47, who had never been a head coach, faced a baptism of fire as the Black Stars’ boss last February, inheriting a demoralised squad after a stunning loss to the Comoros condemned the four-time African champions to a first-round exit from the 2021 Cup of Nations. Defying the odds, they drew twice with arch rivals Nigeria to qualify on away goals. Addo has failed to convince many Ghanaians, though, that he can take the side beyond the first round and the national football association organised two national days of prayer and fasting – one for Christians and another for Muslims – to galvanise support.
Key player: Opponents of Ghana who consider Thomas Partey, 29, just a defensive midfielder would do well to watch a clip from the recent 5-0 drubbing Arsenal dished out to Nottingham Forest. The Gunners were three goals up when the former Atletico Madrid star, who became a Gunner in 2020, unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. The memorable goal confirmed the opinion of long-serving Atletico manager Diego Simeone that the humble footballer from a village in eastern Ghana is “extraordinary when defending or attacking, providing assists, passing, shooting and scoring”. Partey was so eager to play in Europe that he forgot to tell his parents he was leaving west Africa until he arrived in Spain 10 years ago.
Group fixtures
November 24: Portugal v Ghana
November 28: South Korea v Ghana
December 2: Ghana v Uruguay
Possible squad
Goalkeepers: Abdul Nurudeen (Eupen/BEL) Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates/RSA), Joe Wollacott (Charlton Athletic/ENG)
Defenders: Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo/ESP), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City/ENG), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg/FRA), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton/ENG), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre/FRA), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge/BEL), Baba Rahman (Reading/ENG), Mohamed Salisu (Southampton/ENG), Alidu Seidu (Clermont/FRA)
Midfielders: Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht/BEL), Andre Ayew (Al Sadd/QAT), Iddrisu Baba (Mallorca/ESP), Daniel Kofi-Kyereh (Freiburg/GER), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax/NED), Thomas Partey (Arsenal/ENG)
Forwards: Felix Afena-Gyan (Cremonese/ITA), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace/ENG), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade/SRB), Joel Fameyeh (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Abdul Fatawu-Issahaku (Sporting/POR), Joseph Paintsil (Genk/BEL), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes/FRA), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao/ESP)
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@GhanaBlackStars
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