Veteran Ghana ahead Andre Ayew is hoping to create one document and equal one other in the course of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations within the Ivory Coast from Saturday.
The 34-year-old, who not too long ago joined French top-flight outfit Le Havre, has his sights set on changing into the primary participant to attain in seven editions of the marquee African soccer occasion.
He shares the document of scoring in six with compatriot Asamoah Gyan, Zambian Kalusha Bwalya and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, the all-time main Cup of Nations scorer with 18 objectives.
He additionally hopes to turn out to be solely the third star to play in eight editions of a contest that started as a three-team match in 1957 however is now a 24-nation spectacle.
PUNCH On-line experiences that AFCON 2024 is the thirty fourth version.
The sporting occasion is scheduled to be held between January 13 and February 11 in Ivory Coast.
Rigobert Tune, who will coach his native Cameroon on the 2024 Cup of Nations, and Egyptian Ahmed Hassan share the document for many match appearances.
“My precedence is to both begin or come off the bench within the Ivory Coast,” Ayew advised reporters forward of Group B clashes with Cape Verde, document seven-time champions Egypt and Mozambique.
“After that, allow us to see what occurs. What’s most vital is that Ghana do nicely on this competitors as we had a foul 2022 Cup of Nations, going out after the primary spherical.”
Ghana boast the third most profitable Cup of Nations document after Egypt and Cameroon with 4 titles, however the final got here in 1982 after they edged hosts Libya in a closing determined by penalties.
They achieved six straight top-four finishes from 2008, however fell within the spherical of 16 5 years in the past and suffered a humiliating first-round exit in 2022 after dropping to minnows Comoros.
It didn’t assist the Black Stars’ trigger within the must-win showdown with the Comorans that Ayew was red-carded.
Amid calls from some Ghanaians for Ayew to be axed, a succession of coaches have saved religion in him, together with present incumbent and former Premier League supervisor Chris Hughton.
“Andre contributes rather a lot to the Black Stars, each on and off the sector,” says the ex-Newcastle and Brighton boss and former Republic of Eire defender.
A son of former Ghana legend Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, Andre was born in France, the place his father and three-time African Footballer of the Yr was enjoying.
He made his skilled debut with Marseille in 2007 and in addition performed within the Premier League, Turkey, Qatar and England once more earlier than becoming a member of Le Havre this 12 months.
His youthful brother, Crystal Palace winger Jordan Ayew, can be in a Ghana squad which are among the many favourites extra due to their fame than type.
Of their final aggressive match earlier than the Cup of Nations, they crashed 1-0 away to bogey facet the Comoros two months in the past in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
AFP