'Depleted' Black Stars B faces Burkina Faso tomorrow

Ghana will approach the Local Stallions of Burkina Faso on Saturday in the first leg of the CHAN qualifier with a depleted side as the Black Stars B have lost many influential players to the exodus train.

Seven influential players, including Black Stars number one shot stopper Richard Ofori, have left the promising team leaving the technical staff with no option than to improvise their selection.

The strong Burkina Faso side will be granted the option of playing a not-so-strong Ghana side that was also denied access to hold their first training session on Thursday.

Following Ofori’s departure to PSL side Maritzburg United, which was preceded by Richard Arthur’s move to Inter Clubbe of Angola, WAFA goalie, who was also the deputy goalie of the side, has also left for Azam FC in Tanzania to complete a two-year deal.

Further weakening the team was the exit of in-form Tema Youth winger Joseph Paintsil who is currently on trial with Belgian giants Genk.

Influential midfielder of the side Majeed Ahmeru was also forced out of the team when Red Bull Salzburg came calling with Nichols Gyan, second on the Ghana Premier League scoring chart with 11 goals also bidding good bye to the team for a new life with Simba Club of Tanzania.

Nicholas Opoku, whose awesome performance at the heart of defence for Berekum Chelsea earned him a call up into the senior national team signed a 3-year deal with Club Africain of Tunisia a few days ago, rendering him ineligible for the game.

The technical team is, therefore, confronted with the daunting task of fusing in new players with Sadick Adams, Felix Addo, Farouk Mohammed and Amos Frimpong joining the side for the trip.

Ghana will take on the Burkinabe’s on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of the qualifier at the Stade du 4th Aust before the second leg in Kumasi a week later to decide who makes it to the final tournament in Kenya next year.