Ghana look to end campaign with Sao Tome win
Ghana will face off with Sao Tome and Principe in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group C match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on today. Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.
The Black Stars booked their place in the finals after drawing 1-1 with South Africa away in their most recent Group C game which was played on Thursday.
Ghana are sitting at the top of the group standings — level on points with second-placed South Africa and a point above thirdplaced Sudan, but the Black Stars have a superior head-to-head record over both teams.
However, coach Charles Akonnor's side has been boosted by the arrival of three key players in Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew ahead of their clash with Sao Tome.
"Captain Andre Ayew, vice-captain Thomas Partey and striker Jordan Ayew have joined the Black Stars ahead of the game against São Tomé and Principe."
"The three England based players missed the game against South Africa due to issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic as the rainbow country has been declared a Covid-19 risk zone by the World Health Organisation ( WHO)."
"The trio trained with the rest of the squad on Friday, at Accra sports stadium as the team began preparation for the final Group C Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against São Tomé and Principe," a Ghana Football Association (GFA) statement read.
Meanwhile, Sao Tome's hopes of qualifying for the next year's tournament have long diminished and they are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Sudan at home in a Group C game on Wednesday.
The Falcons and True Parrots Team are placed fourth on the group standings without a single point having lost all five of their matches in Group C.
Adriano Eusebio, the Sao Tome head coach, named 11 overseasbased players in his squad for their clashes with Sudan and Ghana with Belenenses SAD starlet Ricardo Cardoso part of the team.
“I have considered the importance of these games and I decided to call up 11 players from abroad and 15 from local championships," Eusebio said.
The previous encounter between Ghana and Sao Tome was on November 18, 2019.
Ghana claimed a 1-0 victory over Sao Tome in the 2022 AFCON qualifier Group C game at the Estadio Nacional 12 de Julho in Sao Tome.
Today’s fixtures
Afcon Qualifiers 2021 Namibia v Guinea
(Sam Nujoma Stadium, 15:00 ) Tanzania v Libya (Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, 15:00)
Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea (Stade Olympique de Rades, 15:00)
Ghana v Sao Tome and Principe (Cape Coast Sports Stadium, 18:00)
Sudan v South Africa (Al-Hilal Stadium, 18:00) — Supersport
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday and said he was in home quarantine in Mumbai with mild symptoms of the disease.
Tendulkar, who is widely revered as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, confirmed the news on social media.
"I have been testing myself and taking all the recommended precautions to ensure Covid is kept at bay," he said in a statement.
"However, I have tested positive today following mild symptoms. All others at home have tested negative.
"I've quarantined myself at home and am following all the necessary protocols as advised by my doctors."
The 47-year-old recently led India Legends to a title win over Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 exhibition series at home earlier this week.
The highest run-scorer of all time in both Test matches and one-day internationals, Tendulkar retired in 2013 after playing in 200 Tests, in which he scored 15,921 runs.
He took another 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs and hit 100 centuries across both formats.