The Black Stars of Ghana will play Mexico in the first of two friendly games during the October international break on Sunday dawn.
While Mexico prepares for the CONCACAF Nations League next month, Ghana will compete in the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024 before that is the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Mexico has only played two friendlies since winning the Gold Cup in July, drawing 2-2 against Australia and 3-3 against Uzbekistan last month.
Those losses were significant disappointments for Jaime Lozano’s team, who did show some spirit by coming from behind in both meetings, with Fulham striker Raul Jimenez demonstrating that he still has it by scoring three goals in both games.
The Tricolour trailed Australia by two goals in Texas, but Jimenez converted his penalty before Cesar Huerta grabbed a tie with seven minutes remaining, and the former Wolves forward levelled matters against Uzbekistan again. Uriel Antuna appeared to have helped Mexico get back on track, but Otabek Shukurov had other ideas, scoring in injury time.
Mexico’s main goal for the calendar year was fulfilled in July when they defeated Panama 1-0 in the Gold Cup final. Lozano’s team did not surrender a single goal during the final phases of the competition, winning five of six matches on their way to a record-extending 12th Gold Cup title.
However, Lozano will be eager for his team to return to winning ways against Ghana on Sunday, especially with a more challenging match against Germany coming up three days later before the CONCACAF Nations League knockout stages begin in November.
Ghana, on the other hand, will head to the North American continent on the heels of two triumphs last month, as they finished their AFCON qualification campaign with a win against Central African Republic, followed by a friendly victory over Liberia five days later.
Ernest Nuamah’s 88th-minute victory against CAR put the Black Stars ahead of Angola in Group E, after West Ham United forward Mohamed Kudus had tied the game at Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The two players were involved once again when Ghana beat Liberia 3-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium with Jordan Ayew scoring the other goal.
The Black Stars had not won since a critical 1-0 triumph over Angola in March, following painful draws against Mozambique and away to Angola in the reverse fixture.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton, on the other hand, is unbeaten in five matches since taking over in March earlier this year, and he will seek to maintain that record ahead of two World Cup qualifiers next month before heading to Ivory Coast for AFCON in the New Year.
Possible starting lineups:
Mexico: Ochoa; K Alvarez, Sepulveda, Vasquez, Angulo; E Alvarez, Pineda; Alvarado, Rodriguez, Huerta; Jimenez
Ghana: Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Aidoo, Opoku, Mensah; Salis, Partey; Nuamah, Kudus, Ayew; Williams
Source: Sportsworldghana
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