Gyan, Dede to miss Brazzaville game

Ghana’s Black Stars will miss the services of their captain, Asamoah Gyan, and his deputy, Andre Ayew, for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Congo in Brazzaville, according to a member of the Stars medical team.

The two experienced players did not play the full duration of last Friday’s qualifying match in Kumasi, with Turkey-based Gyan replaced in the 62nd  minute by Thomas Agyepong, while Ayew was substituted six minutes later in the 1-1 drawn game.

Gyan reportedly sustained a groin rejury in last Friday’s game while West Ham United’s Ayew also reportedly injured his thigh. The two were absent from the team’s training at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday morning — Ayew sat on the bench while his teammates went through their paces, but Gyan was not present at the stadium at all.

Their absence add to Coach Kwasi Appiah’s injury woes which ruled out experienced centre-back John Boye from last Friday’s match in Kumasi.

The Stars leave Ghana today for Brazzaville via Asky Airlines and will make transits in Lome and Libreville before arriving in the Conngolese capital late in the day.

The Black Stars need victory in their return leg with Congo in Brazzaville to have a mathematical chance of bouncing back in the campign, especially should Uganda hold Egypt in Alexandria  in the other Group E match.