Egypt Coach Rui Vitoria Hopes Mohammed Kudus Will Be Available for Ghana in Top Group B Clash

• Rui Vitoria hopes Mohammed Kudus will be fit to face Egypt
• The West Ham United star missed Ghana's opening fixture
• Ghana do battle with Egypt in Abidjan on Thursday evening

Rui Vitoria, the Egypt national team coach, has opened up on the Pharaohs' Group B clash against Ghana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire.

The Portuguese gaffer, whose team were held to a 2-2 draw in their opening game against Mozambique, needs a win against the Black Stars to ensure progress to the next stage.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars, who lost their first match to Cote d'Ivoire, desperately need all three points to revive their campaign at the tournament.

Ghana were without talismanic midfielder Mohammed Kudus in the first match on Sunday.

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However, the West Ham United star has been training with the rest of his teammates, handing Ghana hope for Group B's headliner.

Ahead of Thursday's clash, Vitoria described Kudus as a fantastic player and wants to see the best player feature at the competition.

“I think it’s good for the tournament that the best players play all the games,” Vitoria said at a pre-match conference, as monitored by Sports Brief's Lukman Abdul Mumin in Abidjan.

“For me, it’s clear. For me, he’s [Mohammed Kudus] a fantastic player, he’s doing well in the English Premier League. I am ready to face that kind of player, we are ready for that. We will prepare the team for that.

“We will have to control him but not only him because the Ghana team is a very good team and all the players are good.”

Later on Wednesday, Kudus participated in full training at Bingerville as coach Chris Hughton assessed his fitness.

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Ghana has not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1982 while Egypt last clinched the trophy in 2010, beating the Black Stars in the final in Angola.

Vitoria ready for Ghana at AFCON

Sports Brief also reported that Egypt coach Rui Vitoria says his team are ready for the Black Stars of Ghana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Pharaohs had a slow start to the tournament after a last-gasp penalty from Mohamed Salah earned the seven-time champions victory on Sunday.

Ahead of Thursday's game, Vitoria feels confident Egypt will defeat Ghana but has urged his players not to make any mistakes against the four-time African champions.