Stars B ready for Burkina test

Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo Sports News Aug - 11 - 2017 , 12:13

Ghana’s Black Stars B squad storm Ouagadougou tomorrow in search of one of the three West Zone B spots for the Total 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya against Burkina Faso with an unblemished preparatory record.

The Ghanaian side, mainly prepared for this major assignment by assistant coach Maxwell Konadu under the supervision of head coach, Kwasi Appiah, are two legs away from the Kenya Championship, just like Benin, Nigeria, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire who are chasing the two other slots for the zone.

The Stars B appear ready for the stiff opposition expected from the well-drilled Burkinabe side in this final qualifier, having enjoyed a smooth build-up comprising 2-1 victories over West African neighbours, The Gambia and Togo, coupled with the conquests of local premiership sides - Inter Allies (3-1), Great Olympics (2-0) and Elmina Sharks (1-0).

Despite losing key players such as the WAFA duo of Majeed Ashimeru and Razak Abalora to the exodus bandwagon just days to this crucial tie, the Stars B team still boast some quality materials who can make a strong statement for the nation.

The 18-man squad which made the trip included goalkeepers Felix Addo (Kotoko) and Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars); defenders Amos Frimpong (Kotoko), Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars), Awal Mohammed (Kotoko), Musah Nuhu (WAFA), Samuel Sarfo (Liberty Professionals), and Moro Ibrahim (Bolga All Stars).

The midfielders were Gideon Waja (WAFA), Isaac Twum (Inter Allies), Winful Cobbinah (Hearts), Farouk Mohammed (Elmina Sharks), Patrick Razak (Hearts), Zakaria Mumuni (Aduana Stars), Thomas Abbey (Hearts), Emmanuel Gyamfi (Kotoko), with Kotoko’s Sadick Adams and Felix Addo of Elmina Sharks as the strikers.

Incidentally, Coach Konadu was the man who led Ghana to her last CHAN outing in 2014 in South Africa only to lose the title narrowly to Libya 3-4 on penalties.

As he joins his assistant on the bench tomorrow, Coach Kwasi Appiah is expected to make a difference in his maiden CHAN assignment to brighten Ghana’s chances in the return leg in Kumasi next Sunday.