....Appiah must decide whether to start Atsu ahead of Wakaso
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has been handed a selection headache ahead of the match against Cape Verde following the return of midfielders Mubarak Wakaso and Anthony Annan.
The Black Stars take on the Blue Sharks in the quarter-final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Wakaso, who was instrumental in the goals the Black Stars scored in their opening two matches at the group stage of the competition, was suspended for their last match against Niger.
Annan looks to have recovered from an ankle injury after missing the group matches against Mali and Niger.
In Wakaso’s absence as the team’s left winger, youngster Christian Atsu stepped up to the plate and excelled leading to the 3-0 victory over Niger.
The Portugal-based youngster won the man-of-the-match award and scored the second goal leading to the emphatic Group B win.
Wakaso returns after serving the one-match ban and recovering from a knee injury, while Rabiu Mohammed has excelled in Annan’s position.
The Ghana coach must now decide which of the four players must start against Cape Verde as they fight for a place in the last four.
“I must see how the players perform in training before I take any decision,” Appiah said when asked about the selection headache.
“It is always good for the team when all your players are performing at the level you expect them. A decision has to be taken in the interest of the team.”
Wakaso was been involved in two of Ghana opening three goals at the tournament, scoring one and setting up another.
He was suspended from the final group match against Niger because of his accumulation of yellow cards.
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