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Ghana faces Benin in Match 12 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The two sides will play on June 25, 2019, at the Ismailia Stadium in Egypt.
Ghana and Benin are bracketed in the same group as the defending AFCON champions Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau. Cameroon is touted to win the Group and advance to the next round along with Ghana while Benin and Guinea-Bissau not expected to give them much of a challenge.
The top two teams in Group F will advance to the knockout stage along with the Top four 3rd placed teams in the tournament. The Group F winner will move on to play the runner-up of Group E while the runner-up of Group F will take on the runner-up of Group B. If the third-placed team in Group F qualifies as well, they will face the Group C winner in the Round of 16.
Ghana
Ghana was the Group F winners from the 2019 AFCON qualifying tournament and will be making their 22nd appearance in the AFCON finals. The Black Stars have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times in their history and are one of the most consistent sides as they have made it to the semi-finals of this tournament during its last six editions.
Here is Ghana’s line-up for the 2019 AFCON:
- Goalkeepers: Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (Sochaux/FRA), Richard Ofori (Maritzburg Utd/RSA)
- Defenders: Lumor Agbenyenu (Goztepe/TUR), Joseph Aidoo (Genk/BEL), Joseph Attamah (Basaksehir/TUR), John Boye (Metz/FRA), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew/USA), Kassim Nuhu (Hoffenheim/GER), Abdul Baba Rahman (Reims/FRA), Andy Yiadom (Reading/ENG)
- Midfielders: Afriyie Acquah (Empoli/ITA), Thomas Agyepong (Hibernian/SCO), Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter/ITA), Christian Atsu (Newcastle Utd/ENG), Andre Ayew (Fenerbahce/TUR), Samuel Owusu (Cukaricki/SRB), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves/ESP)
- Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace/ENG), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor/TUR), Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor/TUR), Kwabena Owusu (Leganes/ESP)
Benin
Benin had a rough qualifying tournament but ultimately booked their 4th appearance in an African Cup of Nation finals by finishing as the runner-up of Group D. The Squirrels made three trips to the AFCON finals from 2004-2010 but missed the next four before making a return in 2019. They have not made it past the group stage and are looking for their first victory at the African Cup of Nations.
These are Benin’s team to Egypt:
- Goalkeepers: Saturnin Allagbe (Niort/FRA), Fabien Farnolle (Yeni Malatyaspor/TUR), Cherif Dine Kakpo (Buffles Borgou)
- Defenders: Khaled Adenon (Amiens/FRA), Moise Adilehou (Levadiakos/GRE), Seidou Baraze (Yzeure/FRA), Rodrigue Fassinou (ASPAC), Emmanuel Imorou (Caen/FRA), David Kiki (Red Star/FRA), Junior Salomon (Plateau Utd/NGR), Olivier Verdon (Sochaux/FRA)
- Midfielders: Jordan Adeoti (Auxerre/FRA), Sessi D’Almeida (Yeovil/ENG), Rodrigue Kossi (Club Africain/TUN), Mama Seibou (Toulon/FRA), Stephane Sessegnon (Genclerbirligi/TUR), Anaane Tidjani (Ben Guerdane/TUN)
- Forwards: Desire Azankpo (Senica/SVK), David Djigla (Niort/FRA), Jodel Dossou (Vaduz/LIE), Steve Mounie (Huddersfield/ENG), Mickael Pote (Adana Demirspor/TUR), Cebio Soukou (Hansa Rostock/GER)
Who Wins?
Cameroon may be the soccer betting favorites to win Group F. But Ghana is also a side that is blessed with top European level experience with the likes of Asamoah Gyan, Emmanuel Agyemang and Andre Ayew. The Fenerbahce winger scored 44 goals in 160 appearances for Olympique Marseille from 2007-2015, winning two Coupe de la Ligue during that period. Andre’s brother Jordan, who plays for Crystal Palace on a loan from Swansea City, is also on the team for the Black Stars.
Benin had their ups and downs during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament but in the end, they booked their entry to the finals. But this is a side that is still looking for their first ever win in the AFCON. I don’t see them getting it against a veteran squad like Ghana. Prediction: Ghana
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