Analysis
Thanks to convincing victories in warm-up matches against Egypt and Tunisia, the Black Stars are in positive mood ahead of their big AFCON 2013 opening fixture. The Ghanaians, often criticized for netting a few amount of goals in contrast to their number of chances per game, have now started scoring from set pieces.
Midfielder Agyemang Badu and defender John Boye both scored with headers from free-kicks against Egypt and Tunisia. On a rather ironic note, confidence seems higher among Ghanaian fans due to Asamoah Gyan’s promise to never take penalties again – after he squandered crucial ones at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 AFCON.
With a 30-goal tally, the skipper is only four goals away from breaking the record of living legend Abedi Pele as Ghana’s all-time top scorer. Gyan is also poised to lift the country’s first ever Nations Cup trophy but a lot of hard work needs to be done and it all begins this Sunday against Congo DR.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has belief in his squad despite the omission of the Ayew brothers – winger Andre Ayew and striker Jordan Ayew. The Black Stars are looking to set the pace with a resounding victory against the Congolese whose coach, ex-Black Stars manager Claude Le Roy, quit his post following issues of unpaid wages affecting him and several team players.
Ghana, already favourites in this 2013 Africa Cup of Nation fixture, could make the most of Congo DR’s distracted team spirit.
Facts
• Congo DR have two Nations Cup trophies (1968,1974) and one set of bronze medals (1998) in their cabinet.
• Congo DR are making their first AFCON appearance since Egypt 2006 where they got eliminated in the quarte-finals.
• Ghana’s AFCON history is very rich with 4 trophies (196, 1965, 1978, 1982), four runners-up finishes (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010) and one third-place triumph (2008).
• Ghana have kept four clean sheets in their last five international matches.
Ghana’s last four international matches*
October 13, 2012: Malawi 0-1 Ghana (AFCON qualifier)
November 14, 2012: Cape Verde 0-1 Ghana (Friendly)
January 10, 2013: Ghana 3-0 Egypt (Friendly)
January 13, 2013: Ghana 4-2 Tunisia (Friendly)
Congo DR’s last four international matches*
June 17, 2012: Congo DR 3-0 Seychelles
September 9, 2012: Congo DR 4-0 Equatorial Guinea
October 14, 2012: Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Congo DR
November 14, 2012: Congo DR 0-1 Burkina Faso
*as per Soccer Way's statistics.
Prediction
Result: Ghana 3-1 Congo DR
