Stars Play Togo Today

The senior national team, the Black Stars, will today assess their readiness in their quest for a fifth continental silverware in the 25th edition of the Nations Cup.

They host Togo in Monastir, Tunisia, in a major friendly which will certainly evoke bitter memories of a similar outing with the tiny West Africa neighbour ahead of a World Cup qualifier that exposed the Stars. The Stars lost the game 4-0 in Lome.

Togo did?nt inspire awe as today, but having grown in stature and confidence over the past few years with a generation of players like Emmauel Adebayor, Alaixys Romao and Jean Paul Abalo,Togo has become one of the competitive sides whose threat looms largely in the face of Coach Ratomir Dujkovic.

Since camping in Tunisia, the Stars technical bench has gone through some unpleasant experiences in their attempt to rally all their men, a situation that has prompted Dujkovic to engage in some quick-fix solutions to the problem.

The situation in camp has improved considerably, though there are some crucial injuries to contend with which will rob him of quality midfield service from Michael Essien, Sulley Ali Muntari and striker Asamoah Gyan who have effectively been ruled out of the competition.

Striker Matthew Amoah who left camp last week at the invitation of his new club, Dortmund, is expected back at 3 p.m. local time to make the total number in camp and add to the attacking option for today?s game.

Today?s game will witness the changes already envisaged in view of the problems that rocked the team?s build-up to the competition.

The team is made up of Sammy Adjei, John Paintsil, Addoquaye Pappoe, Issah Ahmed, Francis Dickoh, John Mensah, Hans Adu Sarpei, Laryea Kingston, Abubakar Yakubu, Joe Tex Frimpong, Stephen Appiah and Louis Agyemnang.

The Stars who had two training sessions last Monday had a break yesterday due to the Muslim holiday of Eid-Ul-Adha and are expected to round off their session and leave for Tunis on Saturday to prepare for their last friendly against Tunisia on Sunday.