Black Stars face Congo without Gyan, Ayews

Bernard Neequaye Sports News Sep - 05 - 2017 , 11:32

The Black Stars will go into today’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying second leg encounter with Congo without second lead striker Jordan Ayew after he was forced to pull out of the match due to an ailment.

The Swansea forward’s absence adds to Coach Kwasi Appiah’s woes as he jetted off to Brazzaville yesterday afternoon with a depleted team following the withdrawal of his two most experienced stars, Asamoah Gyan, and Andre Ayew, as well as defender Harrison Afful, all through injuries.

The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, told the Daily Graphic ahead of the team’s departure yesterday that Jordan was declared unfit after vomiting intermittently since last Monday night, while his brother Andre was ruled out after complaining of a thigh injury.

Skipper Gyan, reportedly sustained a groin injury in last Friday’s 1-1 drawn game with Congo in Kumasi and was substituted in the second half.

“Jordan and Andre Ayew are not part of the team, but Asamoah Gyan has been granted permission by his club and is travelling with the team to Brazzaville, just as Harrison Afful whose injury worsened after last Friday’s game,” said the FA’s spokesperson.

The Black Stars, who are in third position in Group E behind leaders Uganda and Egypt, have a slim chance to progress and need to win their remaining three games and hope for a favourable result from the other group game in Alexandria, Egypt.

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Appiah supervised training by his depleted team at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday morning before their departure, and are unlikely to train in Brazzaville before taking on the Red Devils at the 33,000-seater Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat.

The Congolese are placed bottom in Group E with just a point but will be buoyed by their drawn game in Kumasi to attempt an upset against the Ghanaians on home soil. The Congolese have never beaten the Black Stars since the two sides first clashed during the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations tourney in Asmara.