Former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba has urged the Black Stars to show determination and discipline as they seek their first win in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against The Gambia.
Ghana began their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in Bouake last Thursday, leaving Carlos Queiroz’s side needing a positive result against The Scorpions.
Damba expects The Gambia, who won their opening qualifier, to provide another difficult test and believes they will be motivated by the prospect of securing another positive result.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports, Damba said the Gambians would be fully aware of Ghana’s pedigree and would approach the match with a clear plan to frustrate the Black Stars.
“The Gambians will come well prepared because they know what Ghana is capable of. They will come with the hope of winning, or at least picking a point, so we have to go all out and fight for the victory,” he said.
Ghana will be without several experienced players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, but Damba believes their absence should provide an opportunity for the younger members of the squad to step up.
Rather than dwelling on the missing players, he said those called upon to replace them must demonstrate why Queiroz has placed his trust in them.
“We don’t need to cry over spilled milk. We have good replacements, and this is an opportunity for them to be counted. They need to show up,” he stated.
Damba believes Ghana have enough quality to beat The Gambia but warned the players that they must remain disciplined and stick to their tactical instructions.
He said the desire to secure an early goal or push for victory could lead to unnecessary risks if the players lose their concentration.
“It is going to be a tall order, but we have the potential to beat The Gambia. They cannot fail Ghanaians,” he noted.
The former goalkeeper also cautioned the Black Stars against becoming overly aggressive in their attempts to attack, insisting that defensive discipline would be equally important.
Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
Ghana are seeking a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco, ending a run of appearances at the competition that stretched back more than two decades.
