2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan begs fans to throng stadium against Uganda

Published on: 23 September 2016
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan begs fans to throng stadium against Uganda
Asamoah Gyan

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has pleaded with fans to patronize their opening 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uganda at home.

Crowds for the senior national team matches have dropped after the bizarre 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil where players threatened to boycott their final Group match against Portugal if their appearance fees and bonuses were not paid.

As a result, authorities have moved the qualifier to Tamale which hosted their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo in November 2014.

"What I will plead with Ghanaians is that whatever is happening in the country now, they should put them behind and attend the stadium when the Black Stars are playing. The last game I witnessed, the attendance was very poor," he told Angel FM.

"It isn't like few years back when you coming for national team assignments the stadium shouts for you to know everything is going well. The attendance in recent games in very appalling."

The two nations are in the same group with Egypt and Congo in Group E with Ghana tipped by bookmakers as the overwhelming favourites to clinch the group's sole ticket to the World Cup. Punters who aren't keen on backing the Black Stars can take a chance on the internet roulette games.

For Ghana, a berth in Russia will be the fourth consecutive time of making it to the global event.

To ensure a good start in the qualifiers, Uganda coach Milutin Sredejovic has announced a 30-man provisional squad to face Ghana in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on October 7.

The Group E opener is expected to come off at the Tamale Sports Stadium, and will be the first game for the Cranes since booking a place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Gabon.

The squad features regular faces such as veteran goalkeeper Dennis Onyango of Free State Stars of South Africa, Tonny Mawejje, striker Hamis Kizza, captain Geoffrey Massa, Emmanuel Okwi and new kid on the block Farouk Miya.

Former Asante Kotoko defender Joseph Ochaya also figures on the roster.

The Cranes will train in Togo from October 2 where they will engage the Hawks in a preparatory fixture two days later.

The match against the Cranes of Uganda is slated for Friday, October 7 after which Ghana travels to Egypt for the second game in November.

Congo will visit Ghana for the third qualifier in September 2017 before the Black Stars embark on two away matches against Congo and the Uganda in September and November 2017 respectively.

Ghana'S 2018 World Cup Group opponents:

Egypt

Nickname: The Pharaohs

Previous World Cup appearances: 2 (First in 1934)

Best World Cup performance: Best result group stage

Current FIFA World Ranking: 46th

Coach: Héctor Cúper

Undoubtedly one of the biggest teams on the continent and the only team alongside Ghana in the group E with world cup experience. The Pharaohs will provide a stern test for the Stars again. They missed out on qualification for the mundial in the last edition following a 7-3 aggregate defeat against Black Stars. They have immense pedigree of being seven time champions of Africa cup of nations and can call on some of the continent’s most talented players.

Uganda

Nickname: The Cranes

Previous World cup appearances: Never qualified

Best World Cup performance: Never qualified

Current FIFA World Ranking: 79th

Coach: Milutin Sredojević

The Cranes were surprise winners against the Black Stars in the last qualifiers - Africa cup of nations - both sides clashed in after a 1-1 draw in Kumasi. Uganda have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations and will need a drastic and remarkable improvement to break their duck for 2018. Uganda reached this stage after eliminating 2006 reps Togo 4-0 on aggregate in the second round of qualifiers.

Congo

Nickname: Diables Rouges (Red Devils)

Previous World Cup appearances: Never qualified

Best World Cup performance: Never qualified

Current FIFA World Ranking: 60th

Coach: Pierre Lechantre

Just like Uganda, the Congo have not had the chance to represent the continent at the world's biggest football stage but with the third highest ranking in the group after Ghana and Egypt. Their national team is generally a blend of locally-based players and campaigners in France’s various leagues. Upstaging Ghana to book a place in Russia is all but impossible.

 

By Nuhu Adams

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