Ghana coach Otto Addo anticipates a challenging match against the Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Black Stars coach will face CAR in the fourth round of matches at Baba Yara Stadium on Monday, with the game scheduled to kick off at 19:00 GMT.
Reflecting on their recent comeback victory against Mali in Bamako during the third round, Addo emphasised the challenging nature of the upcoming contest against CAR.
“It’s going to be very difficult. For everyone who thinks we can just play them, I don’t think it will happen,” said the former Borussia Dortmund coach.
“They’re doing well, especially in the offensive transitions. They’re very dangerous; they showed that in the 1-1 draw against Mali,” he added.
With six points, theBlack Stars are now ranked third in Group I. Gaining the match would greatly increase their prospects of making it to the World Cup.
Former Black Stars goalkeeper George Owu is urging Ghanaians to refrain from criticising Andre Ayew’s inclusion in the Ghana squads, even though he has faced inconsistency in club engagements lately.
The Ghana captain is presently without a club, having parted ways with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the conclusion of the previous season.
Nonetheless, he was named in Chris Hughton’s recent squad for Ghana’s matches against the Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and an international friendly against Liberia.
Ayew came off the bench to contribute to Ghana’s 3-1 victory in the friendly.
Despite the concerns raised by many Ghanaians regarding the 33-year-old’s inclusion, George Owu supports Hughton’s reasoning, emphasising the importance of experience as a key factor in Ayew’s selection.
The former Hasaacas goalkeeper believes that, at this stage, the team requires Ayew’s presence for stability since the current players are not yet fully seasoned.
“It is a new team with just a few experienced players. Andre Ayew and Jordan are the only experienced players. The likes of Kudus are now finding their feet,” George Owu told Onua Sports.
André Ayew has made significant contributions to Ghanaian football, including winning the U-20 World Cup in 2009. However, he appears discontented whenever he represents Ghana, primarily due to the treatment he receives from fans.
“We need to be patient with him [Andre Ayew]. There will definitely be a time when he will willingly announce his retirement but at this moment he is still needed.
“There are players who lack motivation to play for fear of criticism and it would takepeople like Ayew to elevate their morale.
“The insults and criticisms are needless and it won’t help the new player settling in,” he added.
Goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott will be absent from Ghana’s final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Central African Republic due to a thigh injury.
According to the Black Stars team doctor, Wollacott, who plays for Hibernian, is anticipated to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks.
The injury was sustained during Wollacott’s debut match against Inter d’Escaldes in the Europa Conference League qualifiers at the beginning of August.
As a result of this injury, Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton omitted the 26-year-old from the squad for the Central African Republic game.
On Thursday, September 7, 2023, Ghana is set to host the Central African Republic in the ultimate match of Group E at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars’ objective is straightforward: they require just one point from this encounter to secure their qualification for the tournament scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast next January.
According to ambassador Alexander Bikantov, there are currently 1,890 Russian instructors in the C.A.R., according to a Friday interview with the Russian state-owned news agency RIA. The government wants to increase their population. Bangui just recently submitted the necessary application to the UN Security Council.
Yevgeny Prigozhin founded The Wagner Group, which has since grown to be a significant player in CAR, largely replacing former colonial power France.
The mineral-rich Central African country is one of the poorest countries in the world. Wagner initially intervened on the side of the government to quell a civil war which has raged since 2012.
Western countries and the United Nations have accused the mercenaries of committing human rights abuses in the country and elsewhere in the Sahel.
“They essentially run the Central African Republic” and are a growing force in Mali, General Stephen Townsend, the commander of US armed forces in Africa, told a Senate hearing in March 2022.
Wagner, which is deeply involved in the Ukraine war, has recruited extensively in Russia’s penal system and has previously deployed to Syria, Libya and Mali, among other countries.
