2017 AFCON: Ghana have the quality to excel – Agyemang Badu

Black Stars third-in-command Emmanuel Agyemang Badu is counting on the quality available in the Black Stars team to qualify from 2017 Africa Cup of Nations ‘group of death’.

Badu, who is a key member of Avram Grant’s team, admits group handed to the four-time champions of the competition is a tough one but remains upbeat about Black Stars chances of making it to the next round.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside familiar foes Egypt, Uganda as well as Mali.

Uganda and Egypt are Ghana’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying group opponents, with the Black Stars having already been held to a goalless draw at home by Uganda and will be playing Egypt next month.

“The group is very interesting because we will be playing against the same countries we have paired with in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and when CAF also brought their draw we have been grouped with Uganda and Egypt in the same group for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. “ Agyemang Badu told Asempa Sports.

“However, we are not going to concentrate on the qualifiers, because we have World Cup qualifiers against Egypt next month. It is going to be tough but we have the quality to excel in the group.”

The Black Stars will be based Port Gentil and will open their account with Uganda who are making an appearance at the competition in 38 years, before taking on Mali and Egypt in the second and third respectively.

Ghana lost to Ivory Coast in the finals of the last edition held in Equatorial Guinea.

Story by Ghana/Asempa Sports/Samuel Appiah