Black Stars captain Thomas Partey has called on his teammates to give their best performance as Ghana prepares to face Angola in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on September 5, 2024.
The match, which kicks off at 16:00 GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, marks the beginning of Ghana’s journey to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON.
Ghana, aiming for its 11th consecutive AFCON qualification, is determined to start the campaign with a victory. Partey stressed the importance of beginning strong and highlighted the challenge posed by the Angolan side, known as the Palancas Negras.
“We have to go out and show our quality, our best, and try to win because all we need is to qualify,” Partey said in an interview with SuperSport. “If we don’t win, we are not going to qualify. I think it’s going to be a very difficult game. They have a good team, and although I haven’t watched much of them recently, we’ve played against them before, so we know how challenging it is to play in Africa.”
Despite Ghana being considered one of the favorites, Partey emphasized that the Black Stars must approach the game with caution. “We don’t have to assume we’re the favorites,” he added, underscoring the unpredictability of African football.
With high stakes in their Group F opener, Ghana will be eager to secure maximum points as they set their sights on the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
