The Black Stars will be without captain Asamoah Gyan for their 2015 African Cup of Nations opener against Senegal later today [Monday] after failing to recover from a “mild case of malaria.”
Olympique Marseille midfielder Andre Ayew will now captain the team for the game.
[contextly_sidebar id=”x8LktgMPxi4iGHVQ3z5eDY5GsYl9FEFv”]The Al Ain striker was a major doubt for the game after being rushed to the hospital over the weekend and sitting out the Stars’ final training session on Sunday.
Head Coach Avram Grant had stated that Gyan would be assessed on Monday to determine if he could be picked for the game but confirmation of the striker’s loss will be a big blow to the Stars.
FC Lorient striker Jordan Ayew will now lead the line for Ghana against Senegal.
Goalkeepr Razak Braimah keeps his place in goal and will be protected by a back line of Augsburg’s Baba Rahman, Harrison Afful, Awal Mohammed and Jonathan Mensah, although there are suggestions that Grant will employ a three-man defence with AFCON debutant Richard Amartey dropping back.
Regular center-back John Boye failed to make the starting line-up despite training with the team on Sunday while Rabiu Mohammed and Emmanuel Agyeman Badu remain ever presents in the center of midfield for the Stars.
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in the starting line-up is that of Everton’s Christian Atsu who only recently recovered from injury and has struggled to make an impact at the Toffees since his move on-loan from Chelsea.
Ghana starting XI vrs Senegal: Razak Braimah, Harrison Afful, Baba Rahman, Awal Mohammed, Jonathan Mensah, Daniel Amartey, Rabiu Mohammed, Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Christian Atsu, Andre Dede Andre, Jordan Ayew. Coach: Avram Grant
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EdKwakofi