2019 AFCON Predition: Ghana to top Group F
The Black Stars of Ghana will play their first match at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the Squirrels of Benin on Tuesday, June 25, at Ismailia Stadium in Egypt.
Nicknamed ‘The Squirrels’, Benin has made it to the continental showpiece on three occasions in the 2004, 2008 and 2010, where they were kicked out at group stages.
They head into this game with an intention of going past the group stages, but the odds are against them as they have lost to Ghana in 7 outings, drawing 5 and winning 2 in their fourteen (14) international outing in all competitions.
As West African neighbors, the squirrels know so much about the Ghanaian side and would seek to capitalize on the weakness of the Black Stars to hit them hard in search of a booster in the second game of group F.
Head Coach – Michel Dussuyer
French coach, Michel Dussuyer, who is having his second stint with the Benin team after guiding them in 2008 to 2010, would certainly be aiming for a good start in Ismailia come June 25.
The former goalkeeper, having taken Guinea and Ivory Coast to continental showpiece before, has so much experience on the continent that can be of great use heading into the all-important opener.
Dussuyer has guided Cote D Ivoire to the quarter-finals before and is poised at making history with Benin to go past the group stages and possibly to the semi-finals of the 32nd edition of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) slated for Egypt from June 21 to July 19, 2019.
With so much experience on the field of play, veteran playmaker, Sessègnon would be hoping to get counted among the elites in Egypt for the continental showpiece.
Being the top goal scorer for the Squirrels, the former Sunderland man would have so much on his shoulders to pull the Benin team along when they face the Stars of Ghana, who are hoping to end their 37 year trophy drought.
Fixtures
Ghana Vs Benin – 6/25/19 – 23:00
Benin Vs Guinea-Bissau – 6/29/19 – 23:00
Benin Vs Cameroon – 7/2/19 – 19:00
The Black Stars of Ghana are heading into this tournament as four time winners with their last trophy won in 1982.
Having won in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 the Black Stars of Ghana have been charged to win this year’s edition, which has been christened “year of trophy return”.
With so much quality for Ghana over the years, the team has flatter to deceive when it mattered most losing on several occasions in the grand finale.H
Like Benin head coach, Ghana’s James Kwesi Appiah is also having a second stint of managing the Ghana national team, after managing the side from 2012-2014, taking them to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in the process.
Wining three of his four qualifiers and guiding his side to score eight goals and conceding one, coach Appiah has been tasked with a huge responsibility of winning the AFCON back to Ghana for the first time since 1982.
Player to Watch
The Fenerbahçe midfielder has been tasked to lead the Black Stars to victory in Egypt as the new captain heading into this tournament.
Having played acrossed Europe, the left footed player won his major silverware in Egypt as the captain of the Ghana U20 team that won for the first time the 2010 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Dede Ayew could be the key to Ghana’s chances of ending the trophy drought if he lives up to expectation of leading a blend of experienced and youthful team having played at the AFCON on four occasions.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Having won a majority of games between both countries, Ghanaian fans would be inspired by the records of 14 meetings with Ghana winning 7, Drawing 5 and Losing 2 (W7,D5, L2), having scored 26 goals in the process and conceding ten (GF 26, GA 10).