Alidu Seidu, Jerome Opoku, Inaki Williams, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Jordan Ayew and Edmund Addo have been handed a starting place in the game against USA as Chris Hughton makes six changes to his starting line up.
The six, replace Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Aidoo, Stephan Ambrosius, Kingsley Schindler, Elisha Owusu and Antoine Semenyo for the game Tuesday night.
Ghana go ahead to head with the United States of America at GEODIS Park at 7:30pm (11:30pm Ghana Time) Tuesday night.
Click on the links below to watch the friendly game between USA and Ghana. Kickoff is 12:30am
Ghana will take on the USA for the first time on American soil as the two sides square off in a friendly at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Tuesday night.
Over the weekend, the Yanks gave up three unanswered goals, losing 3-1 to Germany, while the Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat against Mexico.
In what seemed like a prime opportunity to claim victory against one of the most successful footballing nations of all time, the United States missed their shot on Saturday.
It was the second time this year that the Americans went on to lose a fixture in which they had scored first (2-1 loss to Serbia) and only the second time in over two years that they had lost in 90 minutes after drawing first blood.
That was also the first defeat suffered since Gregg Berhalter was re-instated as national team manager and the first time they had conceded since Berhalter resumed his coaching duties.
From Berhalter’s first stint as US manager up to his current one, this team have only lost consecutive games once, both against Mexico at the 2019 Gold Cup final (1-0) and in a friendly versus El Tri just a few months later (3-0).
Since being knocked out in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup by Ghana (2-1), the Americans have won their previous four matches played against African opponents, conceding only one goal over that stretch (2-1 win over Ghana at the 2014 World Cup).
The Yanks have scored in their last 13 matches played in the United States since claiming a 0-0 draw versus Colombia in January, netting three or more times in six of those encounters.
Ghana began the international window disappointingly, failing to register a single shot on target in their defeat against the Mexicans.
They enter this encounter having lost three of their last four matches versus CONCACAF opponents, with their only victory over that time coming against Nicaragua in September 2022 (1-0).
Their defeat versus Mexico on Saturday was the first time that Ghana had lost since Chris Hughton became the new manager in February 2023.
Under his guidance, Ghana have been slow out of the gate, scoring only one first-half goal since the former Newcastle United and Brighton boss took charge.
Before their defeat versus Mexico, the Black Stars had come back to claim a win or draw in their two previous matches in which they had conceded first, while winning their last four contests after netting in the opening half.
Before the 2014 World Cup group stage, the Ghanaians were a perfect 4-0 against the US, knocking them out of the 2006 and 2010 finals, but they have lost the last two meetings against them, both by a 2-1 score.
USA friendly form:
USA form (all competitions):
Ghana friendly form:
Ghana form (all competitions):
On Saturday, Gio Reyna featured for the US for the first time since the infamous feud between Berhalter and his family, Matt Turner made his team-leading 10th appearance of 2023, Folarin Balogun started for the fifth time since officially committing to the national team, while Tim Ream became just the fourth player in the modern era of this program (1990-present) to earn a cap at 36 years old, with the others being Fernando Clavijo, Thomas Dooley and Preki.
On Saturday, Cameron Carter-Vickers made his first senior team appearance since the World Cup, replacing Chris Richards in the second half, while Lennard Maloney is the only player chosen for this international window without an international cap.
Christian Pulisic notched his 27th goal for the US in their previous encounter, putting him three back of Brian McBride for fifth all-time with the men’s team, while the AC Milan winger now has 41 goal contributions on the international stage, the fifth-most in Yanks history behind only Eric Wynalda (51), Jozy Altidore (56), Clint Dempsey (76) and Landon Donovan (115).
Five Ghana players who were in the opening lineup versus Liberia (3-1 win) remained in the starting 11 on Saturday, including Nicholas Opoku, Joseph Aidoo, Kingsley Schindler, Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo.
Stephan Ambrosius made his first career start with the Black Stars, having collected his first career appearance in their previous encounter, Thomas Partey featured for the first time with the national team since June and is now four appearances shy of 50, while Jordan Ayew came on as a substitute against Mexico for his 93rd cap with the senior side.
Ayew can surpass Sulley Muntari and Wilberforce Mfum for seventh in all-time goals with the national team with his next one as the Crystal Palace striker is currently on 20, one more than his father Abedi Pele but four behind his brother Andre Ayew, who was not called up for this window.
USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Jones, Richards, Robinson, Dest; McKennie, Musah, De la Torre; Pepi, Balogun, Pulisic
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati-Zigi; Schindler, Nicholas, Seidu, Mensah; Samed, Partey; Owusu, Kudus, Paintsil; J. Ayew
The game will start Tuesday 8:30pm ET TIME in the USA, thus Wednesday 12:30am in Ghana
Throughout the year, Ghana have struggled to maintain a high level of consistency as their current generation is getting older and lacking an influential player with outstanding attacking qualities, something the Americans have in abundance and something we think will tip the scales in their favour come Tuesday.
Source: Sportsmole
Michael Yeboah’s quick-fire brace and Emmanuel Antwi’s thunderous strike in the space of ten minutes was all Great Olympics needed to inflict Accra Lions their second defeat of the season.
Despite starting the game the better of the two sides, creating two good chances in the first ten minutes, Great Olympics turned things around quickly profiting from an error in Accra Lions’ defence to open the scoring. Accra Lions goalkeeper Daniel Afful failed to grab a long strike from Antwi and Yeboah made no mistake as he tapped in from a rebound.
Two minutes later, Yeboah will double Olympics’ lead after Michael Osei’s shot came off the foot of Afful before Yeboah slotted home.
Things went from bad to worse for Lions with Antwi unleashing a left-footed shot after his first strike from a freekick was deflected by the wall to make it 3-0 for Olympics before half-time.
Accra Lions were forced into an early substitution after forward Bernard Kesse sustained an injury just before the break, and had to be replace by Emmanuel Dzigbah in the second-half.
In the second-half, Great Olympics came close a couple of times through forward Michael Osei, who was a menace for Accra Lions’ defence.
Mohammed Shawkan almost got one back for the visitors but his strike from outside the box was not enough to trouble Benjamin Asare of Olympics.
Just before the game will end, there were calls for a penalty after Fredrick Asante’s strike hit the hands of an Olympics defender but the referee waved play on.
Great Olympics held on to continue their unbeaten start to the season while Lions suffered their second defeat on the row.
The Confederation of African Football(CAF) has released the match schedule for the upcoming Women’s Champions League Cote D’Ivoire 2023.
The tournament will take place from 5-19 November in Korhogo and San Pedro, Cote d’Ivoire.
Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies will open the campaign with title holders, AS FAR club from Morocco on November 6, before taking on AS Mande on November 9.
Ampem Darkoa’s last group game will be against Huracanes FC on October 12.
See full fixtures below;
Joseph Aidoo has been ruled out of the International friendly against the United States of America due to an ankle injury.
The Celta Vigo man hobbled off with an ankle injury in the 27th minute of the International friendly against Mexico and was replaced by Alidu Seidu.
Further tests by team Doctors have confirmed that Aidoo sustained an ankle tendons injury and would require immediate treatment to return to action. The player is due to fly back to his club in Spain for further treatment.
Joseph Aidoo, a former player of Inter Allies has made 12 International appearances for Ghana making his debut in March 2019.
The Black Stars have arrived in Nashville, Tennessee for the second International friendly against the United States of America on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
The Ghana contingent made up of players; technical team staff and officials departed Charlotte in the afternoon and arrived in Nashville about an hour and half later.
Ghana aims to end the International window on a high following a 2-0 loss to Mexico at the Bank of America stadium on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
The team will take on the United States of America in the second friendly at GEODIS Park – Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
The 2023/24 Ghana Premier League continued with Match Day 4 encounters at the various venues.
Asante Kotoko 1-0 Aduana FC
Scorer: Kalo Ouattara
MVP: Yussif Nurudeen (Asante Kotoko)
Bofoakwa Tano 0-0 GoldStars
MVP: Ernest Mwankurinah (Bofoakwa Tano)
FC Samartex 2-0 Dreams FC
Scorers: Baba Musah Hamadu, Dauda Yussif Seidu
MVP: Baba Musah Hamadu (FC Samartex)
RTU 3-2 Karela United
Scorers: Baba Kushibu, Mohammed Mankuyeli, Owusu Afriyie || Evans Adomako, Alex Kuffour
MVP: Abdul Bashiru (Karela United)
Berekum Chelsea 1-0 Nations FC
Scorer: Emmanuel Sarpong
MVP: Edwin Kuffour Asamoah (Berekum Chelsea)
Legon Cities 1-1 Bechem United
Scorers: Frank Antwi || Samuel Kuffuor
MVP: Joseph Amoah (Legon Cities)
Monday
Great Olympics 3-0 Accra Lions
Scorers: Michael Yeboah (2x), Emmanuel Antwi
MVP: Emmanuel Antwi (Great Olympics)
Postponed Matches
Heart Of Lions vs Hearts Of Oak
Medeama SC vs Nsoatreman FC
Berekum Chelsea made their home advantage count after beating Nations FC in the week five of the Ghana Premier League.
Having recorded unimpressive results in previous fixtures, the host went into the game with all serious in search of victory against the Ghana Premier League newcomers.
Fortunately, Berekum Chelsea cruised to a 1-0 win over Nations FC at the Golden City Park on Sunday.
Emmanuel Sarpong’s strike was enough for the host to secure maximum points in the crucial encounter.
The attacker shot Chelsea into the lead five minute to the half time break and with no additional goal, the host cruised to victory to secure maximum points on home turf.
Berekum Chelsea are 7th on the league standings with 7 points whiles Nations FC sit 14th on the table with 4 points. It is worthy to note the Premier League newcomers have one outstanding game.
Legon Cities were held to 1-1 draw by Bechem United at the El Wak Stadium on Sunday, October 15 2023.
The Royals fell behind to Samuel Osei Kuffuor’s strike on 15 minutes for Bechem.
The Hunters went into the break with that narrow lead and were determined to deny Paa Kwesi Fabin’s side their third consecutive win at home but Bismark Kobi-Mensah’s side wilted under pressure as Frank Antwi netted the equalizer for the hosts on 77 minutes.
Kobi-Mensah’s woes continue to deepen as he failed to ease the pressure on him by winning this game. This is their third consecutive game without a win.
Fabin will also be disappointed they couldn’t make it three wins in a row at home but will be satisfied with the point given the resilience of the visitors in the game.
Legon Cities will face their former coach, Maxwell Konadu when they travel to Nsoatreman for their next game while Bechem United will host Berekum Chelsea at home.
By Suleman Asante
