AFCON qualifiers: Ghana’s Black Stars ready for Bafana battle at FNB Stadium
Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus punished South Africa the last time the teams met in the reverse fixture of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in November 2019 and is looking to do the same again on Thursday at FNB Stadium to seal the Black Stars’ passage to the finals in Cameroon.
Kudus was new to the Ghana set-up when he netted in a 2-0 win at Cape Coast, but has gone on to establish himself at Ajax Amsterdam, despite a few injury set-backs, and is one of the best midfield prospects to come out of Africa in some years.
He says the team has prepared well for the match at Soccer City, despite the fact they are missing a number of star names, such as Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
“It has been very good. There’s a very good team spirit and unity in camp and everyone is 100% ready for the game,” Kudus told the Ghana FA website. “The goal is to qualify for the AFCON so we go into every game with the same mentality, whether it is two games or one game that we have to win, the mentality is the same.
“It’s the same spirit so whether we will qualify after this game or the next game, it’s the same mentality and we are going to do our best to seal qualification [in South Africa].
“The best way to approach the game is thinking that it’s a new game. Because we beat them the first time, they are going to come with extra motivation to beat us so the most important thing is to match their spirit and play what we know best.
With Bafana Bafana set to take on Ghana in a African Cup of Nations qualifier this week, fans have flocked to social media in debating who should be getting the nod against the Black Stars. Check it out! #FanPark https://t.co/2xgIYCkgkB
— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) March 25, 2021
Read Also: AFCON qualifiers: Okoye tips Super Eagles to bag six points in two games
“We will approach the game the same way we did the other time. But that is gone, this is the most important game for us and that is what the focus is about.”
After the clash with Bafana, Ghana will host minnows Sao Tome e Principe on Sunday, where they will be expected to qualify for the finals if they haven’t already in Johannesburg.