On paper hosts Ghana are overwhelming favourites when they face Uganda Cranes in the 2015 Afcon Group E opener in Kumasi on Saturday.
But Black Stars’ captain Asamoah Gyan knows it will be a tough task to crack down coach Micho Sredojevic’s side when they two sides faces off at the Baba Yara Stadium.
“It is not going to be easy, we are facing a top side, Uganda is a top side despite we being ahead of them statistically,” Gyan told the local media.
“But we’ll make sure we approach the game with winning on our mind. We have to make sure we don’t do anything apart from winning,” he said.
Gyan is also determined to lead the Black Stars secure win in the games against Uganda and Togo to atone for the massive disappointment of the World Cup in Brazil.
This follows events after Kwesi Appiah’s side received a dismal reception upon arrival in Kumasi from Accra on Tuesday.
“We have to make sure we win to make everybody happy in the country. I think everyone knows the task ahead of each other and we are planning to get the result.”
Cranes were expected to arrive in Kumasi on Thursday from Niamey where they lost 2-0 to Niger in a friendly.
ROAD TO MOROCCO
SATURDAY – GROUP E
Ghana vs. Uganda (6.45pm)
(At Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi)
Referee: Med Said Kordi (Tunisia)
Asst. referees: Anouar Hmila & Moheen Ben Salem (Tunisia)
Fourth Official: Slim Jedidi (Tunisia)
Match Commissioner: Linus Mba (Nigeria)
FIFA RANKINGS
Ghana: 36
Uganda: 81
HEAD TO HEAD
PLAYED: 10
WON: 2
LOST: 6
DRAWN: 2
COACHES AT A GLANCE
MICHO SREDOJEVIC
Full name: Milutin Sredojević
Date of birth: 1 September 1969 (Age 45)
Place of birth: Prokuplje, Serbia
KWESI APPIAH
Full name: James Kwesi Appiah
Date of birth: 30 June 1960 (Age 54)
Place of birth: Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
CRANES SQUAD
Goal keepers: Dennis Onyango, Robert Odongkara
Defenders: Denis Guma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Savio Kabugo, Richard kassagga, Isaac Isinde, Andy Mwesigwa
Midfielders: Geoffrey Kizito, Khalid Aucho, Tony Mawejje, Kizito Luwagga , Farouq Miya, Moses Oloya
Strikers: Robert Ssentongo, Yunus Ssentamu, Brian Umony, Hamis Kiiza.
BLACK STARS SQUAD
Goal keepers: Fatau Dauda, Adams Stephen & Razak Braimah
Defenders: Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Awal Mohammed, Baba Rahman, Jeffery Schlupp, John Boye and Jonathan Mensah.
Midfielders: Agyemang Badu, Rabiu Mohammed, Yusif Chibsah, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mubarak Wakaso, Atsu Christian, Asante Solomon, Gyimah Edwin, Afriyie Acquah and Andre Ayew
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Ayew, Abdul Majeed Waris, David Accam