Ghana hails training camp in Nairobi ahead of Ethiopia clash

Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 20:03:36|Editor: Yurou
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NAIROBI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ghana national team head coach James Appiah will use his team's camp in Nairobi to add the finishing touches ahead of their departure to Addis Ababa on Friday to play hosts Ethiopia on Sunday.

Ghana, who arrived in Nairobi on Monday, must beat Ethiopia to have a realistic chance of making it to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, which will be held in Cameroon in 2019.

Kenya leads Group F with seven points and Ghana is bottom with three points while Ethiopia has four points.

"This team is ready for the challenge from Ethiopia and we are in Nairobi to polish up the players and fine-tune their form before the game in Addis Ababa," said Appiah on Thursday.

Appiah has recalled Jordan Ayew and his brother Andre Ayew following their six-month absence, as well as veteran Asamoah Gyan, who plays in Turkey.

Ghana who was not engaged in October after Sierra Leone was banned by the world football governing body FIFA, will play Ethiopia on Sunday and again in March.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said in a statement that "the status of the group will be communicated later on, once the competent body takes a final decision in this regard."

Sierra Leone was banned after the country's anti-corruption commission set aside its football association president Isha Johansen and secretary general Christopher Kamara and handed over control to vice-president Brima Mazola Kamara and assistant secretary general Abdul Rahman Swarray.

Only top two teams from each of the 12 groups will qualify for the finals to join host Cameroon in 2019.

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