Ghana's coach, Chris Hughton, has candidly admitted his limited knowledge of the Black Stars' 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B opponents, Mozambique and Cape Verde.
While much attention is focused on Ghana renewing its old rivalry with Egypt in the group, the national team must also be mindful of the challenges posed by Mozambique and Cape Verde.
Egypt has maintained an unbeaten streak in their last four encounters against Ghana, making them a formidable adversary.
On the other hand, Cape Verde, participating in their fourth AFCON tournament since 2013, presents an unpredictable element.
Mozambique, after a 13-year absence, is poised to return to the competition.
Despite numerous past encounters with Egypt in the AFCON, Ghana has faced Cape Verde only once, during the 2013 tournament, with Ghana emerging victorious in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 scoreline.
Ghana's history with Mozambique includes a 1996 victory by a score of 1-0.
However, their most recent clash was during the 2016 AFCON qualifiers when Ghana triumphed 3-1 in Accra.
"Egypt is a very experienced side, with a rich history in the AFCON, boasting more wins than any other country. They are unquestionably tough competition," Hughton stated in an interview with GFA media.
In contrast, the coach expressed his limited knowledge about Mozambique and Cape Verde.
"Mozambique and Cape Verde are two teams that I don’t know much about. However, over the coming months, we will diligently conduct our research, closely monitor their games, and prepare thoroughly before the tournament kicks off," he affirmed.
Currently, the Black Stars are in the United States, preparing for their two friendly matches against Mexico and the United States.