AFCON 2021: Match Preview - Ghana's Black Stars set for blockbuster clash against Morocco

• Ghana's Black Stars will renew their rivalry with the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Monday in Cameroon
• Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times with Morocco winning in once in 1976
• The Moroccans will be without Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech who was dropped for the tournament

The Black Stars of Ghana will be involved in AFCON 2021's first blockbuster game when they face Morocco in the group C opener at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

The four times African champions are hoping to end their 40-year wait for the Nations Cup trophy, but standing in their way will be Morocco first before Gabon and Comoros Island in Group C.

Star players Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey and Jordan Ayew all joined the team last week and have been involved in training with the rest of their teammates.

Meanwhile, Morocco will be without Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech, who was dropped by coach Valid Halilhodzic over disciplinary reasons.

Pre-AFCON friendly: Ghana humiliated by Algeria after losing 3-0 to African champions

Football

However, Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint Germain, Romain Saiss of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Barcelona's Ez Abde will be available for the Atlas Lions.

The last two meetings at the Africa Cup of Nations ended in a draw and a victory for the Black Stars of Ghana. Ghana held Morocco in Mali 2002 before beating them 2-0 at CAN 2008.

Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari scored both goals against the North African giants.

Morocco have not lost a game since 2019, and were flawless during the World Cup qualifiers, where they won all six games. Along the line, they beat Ghana 1-0 in a friendly last year.

The Black Stars were however given a reality check just before the start of AFCON after losing 3-0 to Algeria in a pre-AFCON friendly.

Ghana's team show readiness with iconic Osibisa song during photoshoot

Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, Ghana's senior national football team, the Black Stars went through their pre-AFCON formalities in a spectacular way, after taking some lovely pictures and videos for the tournament.

'Our main target is the trophy' - Ghana winger Fatawu Issahaku confident of success at AFCON 2021

Football

The playing body and the technical team had a group picture when they arrived in Yaoundé, to show their readiness for the tournament.

In a video posted on Twitter, the iconic Osibisa's song, we are going, was played in the background to inspire the boys.