Africa-Press – Ghana. In a high-stakes encounter at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, the Black Stars, brace themselves for a critical showdown against Mozambique in their final group stage match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday at 8 pm local time.
Haunted by their disappointing performance in the 2021 edition, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage, Ghana are now on the precipice of making an unwelcome history – consecutive exits at the group stage for the first time in their AFCON journey.
Mozambique, meanwhile, emerged as a potential dark horse early in the tournament, causing a stir with a commendable display against Egypt in their opener. It required a late penalty for the record holders to salvage a draw, raising eyebrows about the Mambas’ potential. However, their fortunes took a nosedive in the second game, suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cape Verde, leaving questions about their consistency.
Having never won a game or progressed beyond the group stage in their previous AFCON appearances, Mozambique may seem like underdogs. Yet, their plight mirrors that of Comoros, who, despite being debutants, shocked Ghana in the 2021 AFCON, qualifying ahead of the four-time champions with a surprising 3-2 victory.
Ghana’s recent performances have left fans yearning for better results, and their form in the past couple of years has been inconsistent. However, the unpredictable nature of tournament football was evident in their clash against Egypt, where costly errors denied them a victory, settling for a 2-2 draw. The initial setback against Cape Verde (2-1) has added urgency for the Black Stars to redeem themselves and secure their first win since the 2019 AFCON, where they triumphed over Guinea-Bissau also in their final group game.
As the tension builds, Ghana face a make-or-break moment, and fans eagerly await whether the Black Stars can rise to the occasion and secure a vital victory against Mozambique to keep their AFCON hopes alive.
25 Jan 1996 Ghana 2-0 Mozambique AFCON 1996
14 Jan 1998 Ghana 0-0 Mozambique International Friendly
19 Jan 1998 Ghana 3-1 Mozambique International Friendly
24 Jan 1999 Ghana 1-0 Mozambique AFCON qualification
24 Mar 2016 Ghana 3-1 Mozambique AFCON qualification
27 Mar 2016 Mozambique 0-0 Ghana AFCON qualification
PREDICTED LINEUP
MOZAMBIQUE
(4-4-2): Ernani; Mandava, Dove, Mexer, Macandza; Guima, Amade, Witi, Bauque; Gildo, Ratifio
GHANA
Ghana received positive news on the injury front as it was revealed that Majeed Ashimeru, who suffered an injury against Egypt, is expected to be fit for the upcoming match.
PREDICTED LINEUP
(4-2-3-1) Ofori; Odoi, Djiku, Salisu, Mensah; Salis, Ashimeru; Paintsil, Kudus, J Ayew, Semenyo
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