• Joseph Paintsil — Stars

 The senior national team, the Black Stars, will face off with Madagascar in the penultimate 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Stade Kianja Barea in Antananari­vo tomorrow.

Victory for the Stars would see them book a place in the 2023 AFCON, scheduled to be hosted in Cote d’Ivoire, next year.

Led by Andre Dede Ayew and his assistant Arsenal’s midfielder Thomas Partey, the team had pre­pared feverishly for the encoun­ter and focused on clinching all three points with a game to spare in the qualifiers.

Coach Chris Hughton with his charges, after intensifying prepa­rations for the must-win game, departed for Madagascar yester­day to settle in for the crucial encounter.

After four games, Ghana occu­py the top spot with eight points with Central African Republic (CAR) and Angola occupying the second and third positions with seven and five points respectively.

Ghana’s opponents for to­morrow, Madagascar, are bottom on the table with just a point and would need a win to stand a chance of making it to the conti­nental showpiece next year.

Though it would be a hercule­an task beating the Black Stars, the host would rely on their home support to attempt to stage an upset for a very competitive final round.

Coach Hughton, who is only finding his rhythm with the team as head coach, would set up to give the host a run for their money.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Salis Abdul Samed, Jordan Ayew and debutant Ernest Nuamah will be expected to make a mark for Ghana in their bid to secure all three points.

The Stars will go all out for the win to make the final round of qualifiers to be held between September 4-12, a mere formal­ity.

 BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE