After 13 days of camping, the Ghana Black Stars will finally get another shot at ending their 34 years trophy – less run when they lock horns with Senegal this Afternoon at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
Today’s game at the Estadio de Mongomo will be the sixth time Ghana will be facing Senegal at the Nations Cup and also the first competitive game for Avram Grant since his appointment on December 1.
The last time both teams played at the Nations Cup was in 2006 in Egypt when a 13th minute strike from Mathew Amoah ensured the Black Stars beat Senegal by a lone goal.
Prior to this game, the Black Stars have played two warm-up games – one against Dutch side Cambuur which they drew 1-1 and the other against Olhanese in Portugal which they won 3-0.
Their final warm-up game against FC Freiburg was called off by Avram Grant due to some injuries concerns in the team’s camp.
Senegal on the other hand camped in Morocco also played two warm-up games against Mali and Guinea. They beat Mali 1-0 and hammered Guinea 5-2 in their last warm-up game.
Injury Situation – Ghana
Currently, the likes of Frank Acheampong and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu who suffered knocks in training have all recovered and are likely to play a part in today’s game.
The only concern in the Stars camp is with Captain Asamoah Gyan and centre back, John Boye. The Kayseri Eskihirspor defender, was rushed to the hospital with a suspected fever while Gyan was admitted at a hospital in Mongomo after he showed symptoms of Malaria.
Injury Situation – Senegal
For Senegal, Southampton forward, Sadio Mane is still nursing an injury he picked up during English Premier League game against Arsenal. He is however expected to undergo final test today to determine if he will play against the Black Stars today.
Team Profile:
Senegal
Star Man: Papiss Cisse (Newcastle United) – Cisse has rediscovered his scoring touch this season, netting nine Premier League goals.
How They Qualified: Finished second behind Tunisia in Group G
Best Performance: Runners-up (2002)
Team Profile
Ghana
Star Man: Asamoah Gyan (Al-Ain) – The Black Stars captain has 45 goals in 86 caps. He will be expected to lead by example as the stars look to go one better than their run to the semi-finals in 2013
How They Qualified: Finished top of Group E
Best Performance: Winners (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
Tactical Preview – Senegal
Today’s game at the Estadio de Mongomo will bring together two coaches of varying level of experience.
Alain Giresse will be heading to his third African Cup of Nations while Avram Grant will be featuring in his first African Cup of Nations competition.
Alain Giresse who prefers a 4-3-3 formation is likely to adopt a fast wing play where the likes of Dame N’doye and Henri Saivet will hug the touch line – seek to break on quick counter attacks and float in direct crosses for Moussa Sow.
Alternatively Senegal can play Cheikhou Kouyate in midfield and will rely on his pace and strength to wear down the Ghanaian midfielder and supply the Senegalese attack with the needed services.
In defence, knowing the threat Gyan , Jordan Ayew and Accam could pose, it is expected that the Senegalese back line will sit deep to prevent the Ghanaian frontmen from scoring.
Avram Grant on the other hand has been trialling an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 formation in the friendlies ahead of today’s game and is expected to stick to this system against Senegal today.
With the 3- 4 – 2 – 1 system, there will be 3 sweepers [Jonathan Mensah – Daniel Amartey & Mohammed Awal] sitting deep. There will also be two wingbacks – Rahman and Afful who will augment the efforts of the sweepers and double up in attack to drive in and float in balls for Jordan – Gyan and Accam upfront.
Again, unlike the qualifiers where he was often employed as a winger, Andre Ayew is likely to be brought into the middle as an attacking midfielder mainly because of his ability to track back and attack at the same time.
With this, he will assist Rabiu Mohmmed in the middle and feed the attackers with through balls for them to try to score.
Facts
– Senegal are yet to secure a win at an African Cup of Nations. Both teams have met 5 times [1963, 1973(2x), 1994 and 2006] with the stars winning 4 times and drawing once. In these encounters Black Stars have won 3 and drew 2 with Senegal.
– Since 2002, they Black Stars have never won an African Cup of Nations game played on a Monday and will be hoping to end this jinx when they play Senegal at the Estadio de Mongomo today.
Prediction
Today’s game will be a tough one for both Ghana and Senegal. Looking at the Head-To-Head breakdown and tactical composition of both teams it will be difficult to pinpoint which of the two team will come tops in today’s game.
However, looking at Senegal’s solid defense that conceded just one goal in six games and that of Ghana that let in 7 goals in 6 games, the Teranga Lions look favourites for today’s game that is tipped to be positive right from the start.
Citifmonline
