Ghana working on set plays - Badu

Scoring from set pieces has been a bane in the Black Stars for several years, but the team seems to be getting better at the art. Two goals have been scored in the side's last two friendlies against Egypt and Tunisia.

With the African Cup of Nations merely days away, midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu says the team is improving in taking setpieces, but admits there is more room for improvement.

"We've been training on them. Most of the players are very good shooters of the ball - the likes of [Mubarak] Wakaso, myself, Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Asamoah Gyan know how to place the ball very well. And Yiadom knows how to place the ball very well too.

"In the past, when I shot and missed, I got frustrated but some of the players will keep encouraging me to bend the ball a bit and that I will get it because I have a very good shot. But there's more room for improvement."

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu also revealed that team spirit has not been affected by Andre Ayew. "Dede is a very good player, no doubt. But this is a team, so even if one person is not there, it is job to make sure that we do our best, because we are playing for the nation."

Ghana leave Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for South Africa, where they face DR Congo in their first game of the tournament on Sunday in Port Elizabeth.