Deputy captain of the Black Stars, Andre Ayew has described their final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Kenya as an important one despite the Stars already booking a ticket to the tournament.
The Black Stars take on the Harambee Stars
from Kenya at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow with both sides already
through to the biennial event.
However top spot will be up for grabs and
Andre Ayew, speaking to a section of the media after the Stars first training
session on Tuesday, intimated that the team was focused on recording the three
points.
“When you are Ghana you always have to be
on top and we have made that our focus. We want to finish as leaders of the
group .We know that the Kenyan game is going to be a good one.”
The game may also be a perfect time for the
Black Stars to avenge their 1-0 to the Kenyans in Nairobi last September.
He said every player recognises the
importance of donning the national colours and that makes the game an important
one for every member of the team.
“We have heard a lot of report about
revenge after losing the first leg encounter. It is true vengeance is on our
minds but our main focus is first to get the three points to secure top spot on
the table.”
The Fenerbache forward who has represented
Ghana in five AFCONs said the players were ready to give out their best to see
Ghana clinch her fifth AFCON glory after almost three decades.
“The AFCON is a very difficult tournament
to play. Even qualifying from the group stage is tedious; the increase of the
participating teams to 24 makes it even harder, but everyone wants to win and
Ghana is no exception”.
The deputy skipper called for a lot of
quality preparation, unity and support and described winning the AFCON as
something “both the country and players needed.”
The clash will be the final qualifier to
the Egypt 2019 showpiece where Ghana’s Black Stars are aiming at ending their
AFCON drought.
Ghana has been to the medal stages a couple
of times in the last 10 editions but has lacked the winning instinct to bring
the trophy home.
Meanwhile, the Black Meteors are also set to face their Gabonese counterparts in a Tokyo 2020 qualifier in the first game of the day at the Accra Sports Stadium.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Credit: Source link
