Black Stars could be in dilemma as Gabon receive massive boost ahead of Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations group C clash with the return of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Mario René Junior Lemina of OGC Nice.
The Stars have their own destiny in their hands as they must avoid defeat against the Panthers to have a slim chance of qualifying to be one of the four best finished third place teams in the tournament.
A defeat will leave Ghana’s qualification hopes on a hairs breath and must do every thing possible to win or avoid a defeat against the Aubameyang led attack tomorrow.
The pair returns to the Panthers team after testing negative for Covid-19 as they missed their opening day victory over new comers Comoros.
Undoubtedly, Aubameyang is Gabon’s talisman and his inclusion in their ranks would serve as a big motivation for the entire team as they face Black Stars on Friday evening.
Mario Lemina on the other hand is a very influential player Gabon and vastly experienced after playing for Italian giant Juventus FC and in the English Premier League for Southampton FC.
Ghana’s defensive errors led to their 3-0 defeat to the Desert Foxes of Algeria in an international friendly ahead of the AFCON 2021 tournament and considered in a similar fashion against Morocco in their first AFCON 2021 game last month.
With Aubameyang’s prowess in front of goal, his inclusion could be a bad thing for the Ghana team who are yet to score a goal in their last two games but has conceded 4 goals in the process.
Center-backs, Daniel Amartey of England Premiership side Leicester City FC and Alexander Djiku of French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg must be on their toes against the Panthers tomorrow who would be more dangerous in attack with Aubameyang and Lamina’s inclusion in the Gabon side.
Ghana had one shot on target against Morocco and would have to keep a clean sheet to have a chance to beat the Yellow and Green team tomorrow to revive their qualification hopes.
The game kicks off at 7pm.