When the Black Stars play Angola in the opening leg of their doubleheader 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday, they will be looking for atonement for their World Cup defeat.
Following Ghana’s elimination from the group stage of the world championship in Qatar, head coach Otto Addo announced his resignation.
Chris Hughton, an ex-international for Ireland who was born in England, has been given the reins through December 2024.
Hughton, who served as the World Cup’s technical advisor, hopes to start his administration in Kumasi with a victory versus the Palancas Negras at Baba Yara Stadium.
The 25-man list for this match includes Thomas Partey, an Arsenal standout, Mohammed Kudus, and Joseph Paintsil, a dynamic duo.
With 18 goals and 5 assists in 36 games for Ajax this season in the Eredivisie, Kudus has been spectacular. Moreover, Paintsil has 11 goals and 10 assists in the Belgian division with Genk.
- Ghana to face DR Congo in final round of U23 AFCON qualifiers
- We will miss Tariq Lamptey very much. – Chris Hughton, Ghana’s coach
Hughton has a wide variety of options for his first starting lineup as the Black Stars’ head coach against the Angolans.
In addition, the Black Stars want to win in memory of their late teammate Christian Atsu, who was buried last weekend.
The Palancas Negras are competing for a position in Cote d’Ivoire’s Africa Cup of Nations having missed out in the last edition in Cameroon.
Angola are presently levelled on points with the Black Stars in Group E of the qualifications and will be eyeing a favourable result in Kumasi before the reverse fixture in Luanda in four days.
Pedro Goncalves named a very strong squad for the back-to-back matches against Ghana including Spezia Calcio striker M’Bala Nzola who is the top marksman for the side.
Nzola was absent in the previous two games in the qualifiers against Madagascar and the Central Africa Republic.
Nzola has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in the Italian Serie A this season.
Gelson Dala Jacinto who has netted 12 goals in the Qatari league this season has also been listed alongside former Valencia attacker Helder Costa.
