Ghana’s next opponents are Tunisia who failed to win any of their three group matches, not even against debutants Mauritania.
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Ghana have relatively easy route to AFCON final
The Black Stars have taken an easy path to the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after topping Group F which had Cameroon, Benin and Guinea Bissau.
Black Stars beat Guinea Bissau
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Coupled win the Black Stars superiority over the Carthage Eagles over the years in the AFCON, having won six of their previous seven meetings against the North Africans with one ending in a draw, the four times champions of Africa should be able to overcome the round of 16 hurdle.
Ghana will face the winners of Madagascar- DR Congo round of 16 clash in the quarters if they survive the Tunisia test.
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DR Congo were tipped to be ruthless in Group A which had Egypt, Uganda and Zimbabwe and were expected to compete effectively for the top spot with the hosts.
They rather lost their first two matches and gained their mojo back against Zimbabwe in the final group game by thrashing their opponents 4-0 to qualify as one of the best third-placed sides.
The Red Devils seem to have started regaining their form per the emphatic victory they secured against Zimbabwe. But Ghana in any day shouldn’t have a problem going past their threat.
DR Congo’s opponents who are enjoying a fairy-tale run on their debut AFCON campaign and would aim at improving on the feat chalked after topping three times champions Nigeria in Group B.
Should they beat Red Devils of Congo, their next opponents will be Ghana in the quarterfinals. Barren complacency the Black Stars should be able to knock out the debutants. Ghana appear to be improving match after match and Madagascar shouldn’t be the team to end their six successive AFCON semis.
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The Black Stars should be ready for any team in the semi-finals if they want to win the AFCON campaign for the very first time in 37 years.
The prospective opponents for the West African powerhouse are the teams that would come out of the Uganda-Senegal pairing and the Morocco-Benin game.
The winners of the Uganda-Senegal game will battle it out with the winners of the Morocco-Benin game, before meeting Ghana in the semis.
Uganda are familiar foes of Ghana lately, but the Black Stars should be able to overcome their challenge.
Senegal would prove tough for Ghana. The Teranga Lion managed a 2-1 win against the Black Stars in 2015 Africa up of Nations which was the last time they had an encounter. Senegal are the highest rated African nation on the FIFA ranking, but they are yet to live up to that hype.
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Benin drew two all against Ghana in the group stage, despite the four times going down by one man due to a yellow card offence, they settled for a draw. Ghana who have been slow starters in tournaments are expected to up their gear which will be enough to beat the Squirrels.
Ghana’s biggest threat in the semi-finals is expected to come from Morocco coached by Herve Renard, the only trainer to win the AFCON with two different countries. They also have some talented players like Hakim Ziyech, Benatia, etc.
This route is relatively easier than the other one which has hosts Egypt, the overwhelming favourites to win the tournament on home soil.
Other countries on Egypt path are Senegal, Nigeria, etc.
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