Sport
Preview: Ghana vs. Madagascar – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Friday’s World Cup Qualifying – Africa clash between Ghana and Madagascar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Group I in the CAF World Cup qualifiers will kick off this week, with Ghana taking on Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday evening.
The Black Stars are heavily fancied to get off to a winning start and are the pre-tournament favourites to top this group, which also features the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros and Mali. ...Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Match preview
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Despite being one of the most decorated nations in the continent, Ghana have fallen in ranking in recent years, now in 11th place among all African nations, according to FIFA’s points system.
The Black Stars had a solid Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign over the last couple of years, winning their group with 12 points and maintaining an unbeaten record during that time.
However, since then, they have experienced a slight dip in form and come into this match following two consecutive losses against Mexico and the United States last month.
While losing to those higher-ranked opponents away from home may be excusable, the major concern for Chris Hughton will be that his side were unable to find the net even once in either of those games but let in six in that time.
Nevertheless, back on home soil here, the hosts will be full of confidence as they have an excellent home record behind them with nine consecutive wins, including a 3-0 win over this opponent back in January.
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In contrast, Madagascar had a very poor AFCON qualification run as they finished at the bottom of their group with just three points and failed to win any of their six matches in the competition.
However, their performance in those qualifiers were arguably not a fair reflection of their ability, as they showed at the start of the year when they finished in a very credible third place at the CAF African Nations Championship.
Notably, Barea were drawn in the same group as the Black Stars in the Nations Championship as well and beat them in group stages, which was made up of just three teams after Morocco withdrew from the competition.
The visitors claimed a 2-1 win over Benin in a friendly last month to snap up a five-match winless streak, and while the odds are stacked against them in this match, it would not be a complete shock if they managed to sneak a result in this one.
Ghana form (all competitions):
Madagascar form (all competitions):
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Team News
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The Blacks Stars have brought three goalkeepers, Lawrence Ati Zigi, Jojo Wollacott and Richard Ofori, to this competition, though the former is expected to get the nod between the sticks for this first match.
Andre Ayew has been short of match time in recent months but is expected to start this match alongside Joseph Paintsil and Mohammed Kudus, while Thomas Partey should slot in as the deepest-lying midfielder.
Tsiry Tokinantenaina and Jean Yves Razafindrakoto both got on the scoresheet for Madagascar against Benin last month and should keep their places in the starting 11 for this match.
Loic Lapoussin was an unused substitute in that match but is expected to return to the attack here alongside Arnaud Randrianantenaina.
Ghana possible starting lineup:Zigi; Seidu, N. Opoku, J. Opoku, Mensah; Partey, Owusu; Kudus, Ayew, Paintsil; Williams
Madagascar possible starting lineup:Adrien; Rabemananjara, Ramanjary, Razafindraibeharimihanta, Fortun; Lalaina, Ilaimaharitra, Tokinantenaina, Raveloson; Randrianantenaina, Lapoussin
We say: Ghana 2-1 Madagascar
While the visitors are the clear underdogs heading into this match, it is worth noting that they are unbeaten in their last two matches against this opponent; however, both of those matches were on their home patch.
We are still expecting a whole-hearted performance from Barea but feel that the Black Stars will make their home-ground advantage count by coming out as narrow winners.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data
ID:529134:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11675:Previews by emailClick here to get Sports Mole’s daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!
Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest injury and suspension news ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they host Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
Xavi’s side are currently fourth in the table, level on points (31) with third-placed Atletico ahead of this weekend’s huge fixture, and here Sports Mole rounds up the team news....Click Here To Continue Reading>>
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BARCELONA
Out: Gavi (knee), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (back)
Doubtful: None
Sports Mole’s predicted XI: Pena; Araujo, Kounde, I Martinez, Cancelo; Pedri, Gundogan, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix
ATLETICO MADRID
Out: Pablo Barrios (knee), Thomas Lemar (Achilles), Vitolo (knee)
Doubtful: None
Sports Mole’s predicted XI: Oblak; Gimenez, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Saul, Koke, Riquelme; Morata, Griezmann
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Dwight McNeil’s thunderous strike secured Everton three points as The Toffees claimed a crucial 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at City Ground this evening.
Dwight McNeil’s thunderous strike secured Everton three points as The Toffees claimed a crucial 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at City Ground this evening.
Dwight McNeil’s thunderous strike secured Everton three points as The Toffees claimed a crucial 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at City Ground this evening.
Steve Cooper made four alterations from the side he fielded against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, with Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare and Ryan Yates all coming into the side. ...Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Sean Dyche was forced into one alteration from the team that lost to Manchester United last week with Dominic Calvert-Lewin left out through injury, allowing Beto to make the starting 11.
Notably, the pink protest cards were out in force by the Everton faithful again this week.
There was little to choose between the sides during the opening exchanges, though Anthony Elanga looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch over the first 20 minutes, with Ashley Young struggling to keep up with the 21-year-old.
However, the first big chance of the match fell the way of The Toffees when Odysseas Vlachodimos dropped a high ball into the box that fell at the feet of Beto, but the forward skied his first-time effort over the bar from roughly 12 yards out.
Forest had their first real sight of goal at the half-hour mark, with Elanga getting on the end of a cross into the box, but the forward was unable to guide the ball inside the far post with his attempt.
The best chance of the first half went the way of the visitors when Abdoulaye Doucoure played in Dwight McNeil, who put his shot past Vlachodimos, but Murillo got back on the line and cleared the ball to safety off the face of the upright.
It was all square at the interval, but Everton should probably have been in the lead with two big chances wasted.
Forest made a bright start to the second half and almost got the opening goal with a shot from Felipe that struck the woodwork.
Amid the tussle in the box during that attempt, Doucoure looked to have pulled Yates to the ground, which the referee waved on, and after a VAR review, the video assistants decided there was not enough evidence to overturn the onfield decision.
Unfortunately for Forest, their frustrations were compounded 10 minutes later as Beto miscued a header in the opposing box that fell to McNeil, who lashed a powerful shot into the top corner to give The Toffees the lead.
Elanga almost pulled his side level twice in the final 10 minutes but saw his first attempt smothered by Jordan Pickford, while his second went just wide of the far post from a snap shot.
Everton parked the bus in stoppage time and saw the game out for a big three points.
Forest will head to Craven Cottage in midweek to take on Fulham while Everton will welcome Newcastle United to Goodison Park on Thursday night.
More to follow.
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