2012 Afcon: Ghana coach Stevanovic to ring changes in his squad

The head coach the Black Stars, Goran Stevanovic would ring changes in his squad that picked three points in their Group D opener against Botswana, when Ghana plays Mali on Saturday.

The Stars would attempt another good result in their second Group Game against Mali and the Serb says he would change personnel for that pursuit.

He told GNA Sports in Franceville that “I have 20 players ready for a game at each occasion and I would  be making changes that is best for the team at every moment.’

Ghana will be without captain, John Mensah who picked a red card in the opener and Stevanovic reckons finding replacement for the influential defender remains a tall order.

“John is very important and it is very bad that we would play without him. He is very crucial for us, but we would have to find an alternative”.

“His experience would be missing but we would find a solution to play without him against Mali”. He noted.

The coach though tight-lipped about who would play in the absence of the captain,  hinted that the pair of Jonh Boye and Jonathan Mensah in central defence would be good enough to achieve the needed result”.

“I was very impressed with Boye, because I gave him the chance and he took it very well. I am satisfied with his performance and Johnathan too played well”. Stevanovic stated.

Ghana, like Mali has three points from one game thus making Saturday’s dual a dicey one, since a win would mean qualification to the quarter finals stage of the biannual continental gathering.

The Stars, tipped as tournament favourites with Cote d’Ivoire, are pitted in Group D with Mali Botswana and Guinea.

Ghana, four times continental champions, are chasing a fifth glory at the tournament being hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Source: GNA