For the first time since the 2022 FIFA World Cup commenced in Qatar, Ghana will be in action on Thursday, November 24, in a top clash against 2016 European champions, Portugal.
Ghana is one of five African countries representing the continent at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars are set to compete in Group H of the group stages of the tournament. In that group, Ghana will battle it out with two-time champions Uruguay, as well as European giants Portugal.
The other group's opponent is South Korea from Asia.
The immediate task at hand is the clash against a Portugal side spoiled for choice with a quality squad at the disposal of experienced tactician Fernando Santos.
Form:
Portugal goes into the Group H opener with inconsistent results from the last five games. Within that period, the European giants have won three matches but have failed to record consecutive victories. The other two games ended in defeats to Spain as well as Switzerland.
Fortunately, Switzerland is the last opponent Ghana faced in the last match played by the Black Stars before departing Abu Dhabi to Qatar for the start of the world cup.
While Portugal lost to the Swiss, the Black Stars dominated and brushed aside the Swiss with a deserving 2-0 win at the end of the contest.
Although that gives no certainty to the outcome of the upcoming clash between Portugal and Ghana, it does serve as a confidence booster for the Black Stars going into the Group H opener.
History Guide:
Ghana and Portugal have only met once. It was in the group stages of 2014 in Brazil that Ghana exited the tournament very early after failing to advance to the knockout stages.
The exciting contest ended with Cristiano Ronaldo netting the winning goal for Portugal to earn the side a 2-1 victory.
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s goalscorer on the matchday is not retired but not with the Black Stars in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A big blow!!!
Portugal's probable lineup for the Ghana game on Thursday:
GK: Diogo Costa, RB: Joao Cancelo, CB: Ruben Dias, CB: Pepe, LB: Nuno Mendes, CM: Ruben Neves, CM: William Carvalho, CM: Bruno Fernandes, RW: Andre Silva, ST: Cristiano Ronaldo, LW: Rafael Leao
Ghana's probable lineup for the Portugal game on Thursday:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (G), Tariq Lamptey, Baba Rahman, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu, Abdul Salis Samed, Thomas Partey, Andre Ayew ©, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams.
Predicted scoreline:
Until that Ghana win against Switzerland last Thursday, there was no hope for the Black Stars to even earn a draw from the upcoming contest.
However, after such an impressive display from the players in that game, there is a lot of confidence in the Ghana national team to even upset Portugal and record a win to bag all three points.
However, the footballghana team still believes Portugal will do enough on the day to grind the result. Perhaps, a narrow win for Fernando Santos and his lads.
Portugal 1-0 Ghana.
Match details:
Thursday’s Group H opener between Portugal and Ghana is scheduled to kick off at 16:00GMT.
The game will be played at Stadium 974, Doha.