GHANA BEGIN AFCON TOURNAMENT WITH DEFEAT

Four-time champions Ghana started their 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament campaign on a disappointing note following the 1-0 defeat toNorth African giants Morocco. It was the opening match in Group C of the tournament.
Apart from Morocco, Ghana are also in the same group withGabon and debutants Comoros.

In their opening match, Ghana played second fiddle to Morocco for the majority of the game and the North Africans got their reward when Angers FC of France winger SofianeBoufalpounced on some hesitant defending in the Ghana rearguard toscore the winner with seven minutes left to play.

It was not the start that Ghanaian fans would have envisaged in the quest to win a fifth AFCON title. Only two countries have won more titles than Ghana in the history of the competition. The two countries are the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egypt. The Egyptians are the most successful African team with seven AFCON titles, while Cameroon are second with five titles.
Ghana had all their big guns for the game against Morocco but they didn’t have the desired effect. The likes of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew, Daniel Amartey of Leicester City and Andre Ayew were in the Ghana XI for the game.

Ghana have the opportunity to bounce back from the slim defeat to the Moroccans when they face Gabon on Friday, January 14. Any other than victory against Gabon will leave the former AFCON winners on the brink of elimination from the tournament ahead of the final group game against tiny Comoros on Tuesday, January 18.

Gabon were without two of their big players in Pierre-EmerickAubameyang and Mario Lemina for the Comoros game but they were still able to record a 1-0 victory thanks to the goal from Aaron Boupendza.