By Tilda Acorlor
Four-time African champions, Ghana will take on the Panthers of Gabon in their second Group C game of the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on Friday, January 14.
Aside a two-legged world cup qualifiers in 2008 and an international friendly in 2011, the Central African side have not met Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon has their morale high going into a game with Ghana having won their opener against AFCON’s first-timer, Comoros.
Ghana must win against Gabon in a “must or bust” situation, so as to find its footing as the tournament progresses further.
Coach of the black stars, Milovan Rejevac yesterday in a presser disclosed he will channel the pressure to win today’s game into a positive performance because he has faith in his team.
“We still have positives with the Blackstars, Gabon’s match is the most important for us at the moment. We are trying to channel this pressure into a positive performance,” coach Milovan said.
Definitely, we are trying to improve our performance. I have faith in my players” He added.
An assertion, a cross-section of Ghanaians have their fingers crossed waiting to see the coach’s words manifest in today’s game.
Ghana was shaky in her first game against Morocco, while Gabon were convincing victors over Comoros with same scoreline.
This is the Blackstars 23rd appearance in the biennial tournament since its inception, while Gabon marks it eighth.
Will the 2021 edition of the AFCON ends Ghana’s 40-year trophy drought?
Is it too much to ask or press the panic button already?
Below are a few match facts from the Confederation of African Football (GFA)
● Gabon are looking to win consecutive Africa Cup of Nations games for the first time since a run of three in January 2012.
● Ghana have won just one of their last five group stage games at the Africa Cup of Nations (D2 L2), losing more in this run (2) than in their previous 12 such matches combined (W9 D2 L1).
● After their 1-0 victory against Comoros, Gabon could keep clean sheets in their opening two matches at a single edition of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2010 (W1 D1).
● After scoring a 16th minute winner in his first ever Africa Cup of Nations match against Comoros, Aaron Boupendza is looking to become the third Gabon player to score more than once in a single edition of the competition, after Brice Mackaya in 1996 (2) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (3 in 2012 and 2 in 2017).
