The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off with an exciting clash between Ghana and Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
Ghana, a four-time African champion, aims to redeem themselves after their disappointing group stage exit in the previous tournament.
On the other hand, Cape Verde hopes to surpass expectations once again and make an impact in the competition.
Match Preview:
Ghana’s early exit in the previous Cup of Nations was a major setback for the four-time champions.
However, they have since shown promise, performing well in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and topping their group despite a few draws.
The Black Stars will be banking on the talents of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, who impressed in the Qatar World Cup.
They are determined to avoid another early exit and showcase their true potential in this tournament.
Cape Verde, led by coach Bubista, achieved a round of 16 finish in the last Cup of Nations as one of the best third-placed teams.
Despite facing tough opponents, they have managed to make it out of the group stage twice in their three appearances.
This experience gives them the confidence to take on Ghana without fear and pose a challenge to the Black Stars.
Ghana’s recent form in all competitions includes two wins, three losses, and one draw.
They will need to step up their game to secure a victory and avoid a repeat of their disappointing performances in the previous tournaments.
Cape Verde’s form has been inconsistent, with one win, three losses, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches.
However, they have shown resilience and unpredictability, making them a challenging opponent for Ghana.
Team News:
Ghana will unfortunately be without Thomas Partey due to injury. However, they can rely on the skills of Kudus and Inaki Williams, who should lead the attack.
Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo may not feature in the starting lineup, as he was absent in the previous non-competitive game against Namibia.
Cape Verde enters the match with a fully fit squad and is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation against Ghana. Their strength lies in their collective effort, with eight different goal scorers during the qualifying campaign.
Possible Lineups:
Ghana: (4-2-3-1)
Ofori;
Seidu, Djiku, Salisu, Mensah;
Amartey, Baba;
J. Ayew, Kudus, Paintsil;
Williams
Cape Verde: (4-3-3)
Vozinha;
Semedo, Borges, Pico, Stopira;
Rocha, Costa, Monteiro;
Mendes, Rodrigues, Bebe
Prediction: Ghana 1-1 Cape Verde
In this highly anticipated clash, we predict a hard-fought draw between Ghana and Cape Verde. Ghana’s goalless friendly against Namibia raises concerns about their ability to break through Cape Verde’s solid defense.