2023 AFCON qualifier: Ex-West Ham defender Paintsil warns Ghana not to underestimate any opponent

Published on: 31 May 2022

Former West Ham defender John Paintsil has warned Ghana not to underestimate any opponent ahead of the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Black Stars will take on the Barea of Madagascar at the Cape Coast Stadium at 7pm on Wednesday before playing Central African Republic four days later.

Coach Otto Addo will be without Celta Vigo defender Joseph Aidoo after picking up an injury in training.

"The players themselves know what is ahead of them. It is an Afcon qualifier and the opponents are  tricky teams so they (Black Stars) should not underrate any of them because the game now is dynamic," Paintsil told Akoma 87.9 FM.

"They should rather stay together and listen to the instructions of the technical team just as they did against Nigeria."

Coach Addo has called up 33 players for the crucial qualifiers with captain Andre Ayew, who missed the World Cup play-offs against Nigeria making a return to the squad after serving his two-match suspension.

Also, returning to the squad are Mubarak Wakasso, Jonathan Mensah, and Kamaldeen Sulemana.  The three players have not featured for the Black Stars since the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Hearts of Oak’s Daniel Afriyie Barnieh and Bechem United’s Augustine Okrah have also been included in the squad.

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