Essien joins colleagues in camp

Ghana’s ace midfielder, Michael Essien finally joined his colleagues in camp in the early hours of Wednesday as the Black Stars stepped up preparations for their game against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their Group B match on Friday, January 15 at the Estadio Nacional Do Chiazi.

Essien, who was expected in the oil rich Cabinda province last Monday, failed after he missed his flight from his London base to Angola.

The midfielder arrived in Luanda on Tuesday and was flown to the team base at Cabinda on Wednesday, less than 48 hours ahead of the game.

With the team scheduled to train on Thursday to fine tune the Stars for the game, it is not known whether he will train as he has just recuperated from an injury that kept him out of action for weeks.

Coach Rajevic told the GNA Sports in an earlier interview at Cabinda that Essien is not a confirmed candidate for the game because he will have to undergo
further fitness tests before the game.

He noted that the player might start in the first eleven or start from the bench, adding that “this will depend on his fitness level.

“For now his chances of playing Friday’s game is 50-50, he might start the game, or come in the second half or might not play at all”. Rajevic told GNA Sports.

The coach also stated that he has equally good materials to replace Essien for Friday’s game as each player is prepared to do battle to ensure the Stars progress to the next stage of the competition.

Source: GNA