![2022 World Cup qualifiers: Black Stars must beat South Africa to secure perfect start- George Owu](https://i1.wp.com/www.happyghana.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_5757.jpg)
Former Ghana goalkeeper, George Owu, has said the Black Stars must beat South Africa later today to enhance their chances of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
The Black Stars picked their first three points against the Walias of Ethiopia at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Friday to go top of Group G thanks to a Mubarak Wakaso strike in the first half.
The former Asante Kotoko goalkeeper in his assessment of Ghana’s game against Ethiopia said it was a good start for the Black Stars to have won in their first game.
He furthered that the game against South Africa should be a must-win to ensure the Black Stars start the campaign on a flying note.
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“We must ensure we win the South Africa game so we can secure the six points for the remaining matches”, he told Happyghana.com
“Ghana has a lot of players. They only need encouragement. Every player that has been called to the Black Stars must be encouraged and get that confidence to play against South Africa”, he added.
CK Akonnor will be without the England and Germany-based players for the South Africa game due to quarantine regulations in those countries.
The players Jordan Ayew, Daniel Amartey, Andy Yiadom, Jeffrey Schlupp, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Baba Rahman, Braydon Manu will need quarantine for up to 10 days if they had traveled with the team to South Africa which is currently on the red list of the aforementioned countries.
In the absence of these key players, Akonnor is likely to hand starting roles to some local-based players in the squad such as Daniel Afriyie Barnie, Fatawu Mohammed, Philemon Baffour, Ismail Gayniu to face the Bafana Bafana.
Below is the 26-man squad list for the South Africa game
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori, Richard Attah, Manaf Nurudeen, Lawrence Ati-Zigi
Defenders: Fatawu Mohammed, Philemon Baffour, Gideon Mensah, Abdul Ismail Ganiyu, Alexander Djiku, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Ashie Quaye, Joseph Aidoo
Midfielders: Mubarak Wakaso, Baba Iddrisu, Emmanuel Lomotey, Majeed Ashimeru, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Samuel Owusu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Yaw Yeboah
Forwards: Andre Ayew, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Joel Fameyeh, Kwame Opoku, Emmanuel Gyasi.