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FIFA U-17 World Cup: Starlets sure to beat Niger

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Starlets sure to beat Niger

Coach Paa Kwasi Fabin will be without his sensational midfielder, Sadiq Mohammed, when Ghana’s Black Starlets clash with their Nigerien counterparts at the round of 16 stage of the ongoing FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mumbai today.

The 17-year-old playmaker, whose goal secured Ghana's first victory against Colombia in the opening match, is suspended after picking two yellow cards in the competition.

Emmanuel Toku, who came on as a substitute in the last game against India, is likely to replace the nimble-footed youngster and partner skipper Eric Ayiah upfront.

Also expected to return is the centre-back, Abdul Razak Yusif, who sustained a head injury during Ghana's second group game against USA. Yusif, who has been solid in defence, started some light training ahead of today's game.

Coach Fabin confirmed to the Graphic Sports that he was looking forward to a win in today's game, although he was certain that the West Africans would not be easy.

"We have played them before, and in all our previous games we defeated them but that does not mean they would come easy," the Starlets coach said in an interview.

Ghana will be playing the Nigeriens for the fourth time in recent times after beating them 2-0 in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations and twice defeating them in friendly games earlier on.

But this time around, the Nigeriens might not allow Ghana to use them as a stepping stone to the next stage of the competition as they also seek to progress towards the title.

But despite the absence of their talismanic enforcer, the two-time world champions are expected to maintain their dominance over Niger to keep alive their dream of winning the ultimate.

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