Veteran Ghana ahead Andre Ayew shall be hoping to set one document and equal one other on the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast from Saturday.
The 34-year-old, who just lately joined prime French group Le Havre, has his sights set on turning 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 Cup of Nations' all-time prime scorer with 18 targets.
He additionally hopes to turn out to be solely the third star to play in eight editions of a contest that began in 1957 as a three-team match however is now a spectacle for twenty-four nations.
PUNCH On-line studies that AFCON 2024 would be the thirty fourth version.
The sporting occasion will happen between January 13 and February 11 in Ivory Coast.
Rigobert Tune, who will coach his native Cameroon within the 2024 Cup of Nations, and Egypt's Ahmed Hassan share the document for many match appearances.
“My precedence is to begin or come off the bench in Ivory Coast,” Ayew informed reporters forward of the Group B clashes with Cape Verde, seven-time champions Egypt and Mozambique.
“After that, let's see what occurs. Crucial factor is that Ghana does effectively on this competitors as a result of we had a nasty Cup of Nations in 2022 and went 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 defeated hosts Libya in a last determined by penalties.
They achieved six straight top-four finishes in 2008 however fell within the spherical of 16 5 years in the past and suffered a humiliating first-round exit in 2022 after shedding to minnows Comoros.
It didn't assist the Black Stars' trigger within the conflict with Comoros that Ayew was proven a purple card.
Amid calls from some Ghanaians for Ayew to be sacked, a string of coaches continued to consider in him, together with present incumbent and former Premier League supervisor Chris Hughton.
“Andre contributes loads to the Black Stars, each on and off the pitch,” mentioned the ex-Newcastle and Brighton boss and former Republic of Eire defender.
Andre, son of former Ghanaian legend Abedi 'Pele' Ayew, was born in France, the place his father and three-time African Footballer of the 12 months performed.
He made his skilled debut with Marseille in 2007 and has performed once more within the Premier League, Turkey, Qatar and England earlier than becoming a member of Le Havre this yr.
His youthful brother, Crystal Palace winger Jordan Ayew, can be a part of a Ghanaian aspect who’re among the many favorites extra for his or her popularity than their kind.
Of their final aggressive match earlier than the Cup of Nations, they went down 1-0 to bogey Comoros aspect in a 2026 World Cup qualifier two months in the past.
AFP
