Stars, Bafana clash in Durban today
Ghana’s Black Stars will today take on their South African counterparts in an international friendly in the coastal city of Durban without the services of striker Jordan Ayew, midfielder Afriyie Acquah and defender Jonathan Mensah due to injuries, according to a report from the GFA website.
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While Ayew and Acquah picked injuries during last Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Uganda at Tamale, Mensah suffered the injury ahead of the game.
Despite the setback, Coach Avram Grant and an 18-man squad arrived in Durban last Sunday hoping to use the match to compensate for their poor showing against Uganda.
With the confusion which surrounded the Stars’ trip to South Africa resolved, Coach Grant and his charges would have to approach today’s clash with a reformed boldness as the match serves as a dress rehearsal for next month’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Egypt, who have comfortably captured the summit of the Group E table.
Although the Stars have a huge reputation as compared to Bafana Bafana, the hosts can pull a surprise should complacency take the better part of the Stars.
South Africa have won four out of their last 10 games, including a painful 3-0 win over the Stars at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, and may seek to repeat the feat today.
The Stars team include goalie Adam Kwarasey, Harrison Afful, Daniel Amartey, Enoch Adu Kofi, Gilbert Koomson, Thomas Partey, Razak Braimah, Mubarak Wakaso, Baba Rahman, Agyemang Badu and John Boye.
The rest are Edwin Gyimah, David Accam, Samuel Tetteh, Frank Acheampong, Christian Atsu, Majeed Waris and skipper Asamoah Gyan.
