Sports Mole previews Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations clash between Mozambique and Ghana, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Group B in Africa Cup of Nations will close this week, and Ghana will try to keep their qualification hopes alive when they face Mozambique at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Monday night.
Ghana are eyeing a second straight AFCON group stage exit, currently sitting third in the group and level on one point with their opponents going into this match, who sit at the bottom of the group standings.
Match preview
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Mozambique have had to wait 12 years to return to AFCON after failing to qualify in the last six editions and the requirements to stay in the competition are exactly the same as their opponents in this competition.
However, history is certainly not on the side of the Mambas as they have never won a group stage match in an AFCON, losing 12 and drawing two of their 14 matches in five tournaments including this one.
Furthermore, Mozambique have never kept a clean sheet in the continent’s top competition, conceding 31 goals to date and allowing two or more goals in 13 of their 14 AFCON matches.
Failure to keep a clean sheet on Monday will see the Mamba draw level with Zimbabwe as the teams who have gone the longest (15 matches) without keeping a single clean sheet in this competition.
Chiquinho CondeHis side came very close to breaking their AFCON duck, though, when they faced Egypt in their opening match and came from behind to take a 2-1 lead, but he was heartbroken to be awarded a penalty against them deep in the stoppage time. Mohamed Salah stuck away to save Pharaoh blushes.
Unfortunately, the Mambas were unable to build on that performance in the two-legged tie against Cape Verde, as isolated defensive errors saw them lose comfortably 3-0 and on the brink of elimination.
Ghana crashed out of the tournament two years ago when they finished bottom of their group, and will finish at the foot of Group B this year if they lose this crucial match.
The Black Stars started their tournament in the worst possible way as they found themselves outclassed by group leaders Cape Verde and fell to a 3-0 defeat, putting them under huge pressure early on.
The second match against Egypt was better than Chris HughtonHis team, who went into the match as underdogs, but despite taking the lead twice, could not hang on and had to settle for a share of the spoils.
This result marked Ghana’s sixth consecutive AFCON match without a win, which is the longest ever winless streak in the competition’s more than six-decade history.
A win over Mozambique here will still not be enough to see the Black Stars claim an automatic qualification spot if Egypt beat Cape Verde in the other match, but four points will almost certainly be good enough to finish as one of the best teams in third place. .
Mozambique Africa Cup of Nations Form:
Mozambique kit (all competitions):
Ghana Africa Cup of Nations Form:
Ghana kit (all competitions):
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Team news
Lau King and Domingues they came on at the interval during Mozambique’s loss to Cape Verde and the pair will be in contention for places in the starting line-up in the upcoming game against Ghana.
Conte also changed his team’s formation in the last game, deploying Atletico Madrid’s formation Reinaldo in three backs and it will be interesting to see if they continue with that on Monday.
Muhammad Qudous missed Ghana’s opening game against Cape Verde through injury, but the West Ham United midfielder marked his arrival at the tournament with a stunning opener against Egypt before netting a second goal midway through the second half.
The Black Stars have no injury concerns at the moment and could turn to a veteran Andre Ayew to give extra strength to the attack after the Le Havre striker remained as a substitute in the last match.
Mozambique’s probable starting line-up:
Ernani? Mandava, Dove, Mexer, Macandza; Guima, Amade, Witi, Bauque; Gildo, Ratifio
Ghana’s probable starting line-up:
Ofori? Odoi, Djiku, Salisu, Mensah, Ashimeru? Paintsil, Konigsdorffer; Ayew, Kudus, Williams
We say: Mozambique 1-2 Ghana
Ghana would take much needed confidence from their performance against Egypt last week and the return of Kudus gives them a real attacking threat at the top of the pitch. Mozambique certainly won’t back down here, but we’re backing the Black Stars to get the win they need in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match, click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com predict under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they have in store for this game and more of their tried and tested football tips.Under 2.5: data