Coach Avram Grant is set to lead the Black Stars into a ‘homecoming’ treat against The Dodos of Mauritius in a ‘David and Goliath’ affair in Accra on Sunday.
The Stars are hoping to make a memorable triumphant entry into the Accra Stadium after finding new havens in Kumasi and Tamale in the past years, with skipper Asamoah Gyan staging a comeback from injury.
However, one Bernard Mensah is expected to attract most attention amidst the fanfare surrounding this Gabon 2017 Group H qualifier as he makes his first competitive debut for the senior national team.
The little known Portugal-based midfielder was a subject of debate after his name popped up in Grant’s 23-man squad but it took him no time to vindicate the Israeli manager as he scored the only goal against the Sparrow Hawks of Togo in a warm-up match in Accra last Tuesday.
Apart from him is the recall of Abdul Majeed Warris, Jeffery Schlupp and Albert Adomah, all of whom missed the last AFCON in Equatorial Guinea early this year.
With almost every member of the AFCON 2015 silver-winning feat on board, except Andre Dede Ayew, goalkeeper Razak Braimah and injured Kwesi Appiah, the Stars look set to win the hearts of Accra fans in this emotional encounter. Interestingly, the absence of Braimah also earned Wa All Stars and Black Meteors goalie, Richard Ofori, his maiden call-up into the Stars as he joins Fatau Dauda and Ernest Sowah to battle for the number one spot on Sunday.
Naturally, the players are feeling the pressure of playing in the capital as Gyan confessed earlier that he and his teammates were already feeling tensed prior to the game.
Coincidentally, the encounter will offer Grant his first feel of an AFCON qualifier after leading an already-qualified Stars team to the last tournament.
The four-time African champions face an opponent whose only AFCON experience happened as far back as 1974 when their only journey ended in the first round.
The Dodos signed on former French international and ex-coach of Togo, Didier Six, in late January to transform the team into a formidable side.
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