Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil says the players are motivated to play their hearts out when Ghana face Madagascar in their penultimate game in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Daniel Amartey and Kamaldeen Sulemana are two players in the current squad who suffered relegation with their respective clubs while some others found game time hard to come by.

Paintsil also ended the season with disappointment as Genk lost the Belgium league title on the final day following their draw with Royal Antwerp.

However, the forward believes the players have put their respective club performances behind them and are already looking forward to delivering the needed performances to help Ghana secure qualification to the AFCON.

"As you can see we still have the belief, the teamwork, the commitment and everything. Even though they had a little bit of ups and downs at their clubs that does not really affect them in the national team," he told the media at a press conference after Tuesday's training.

"Their full focus is on the game [against Madagascar]. The past is the past and they are now focused on the game which is against Madagascar.

"I think every player who is invited here is really ready to give his all for the fans and for Ghanaians."

The Black Stars will hold their third training session behind closed doors on Wednesday, June 14 before departing Accra on Thursday.

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