Match: Ghana v Senegal
Venue: Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France
Time: 1945 GMT

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Ghana and Senegal test each other’s strength in an international friendly at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France, on Saturday.

Both teams are looking to freshen up their teams ahead of the next bout of qualifiers to the 2017 Afcon as well as Africa’s road to the 2018 Russia World Cup.

The last time these teams were in action was at the 2015 Afcon earlier this year where the Black Stars, under the guidance of ex-Chelsea coach Avram Grant, ended up losing finalists. The Teranga Lions, however, failed to make it past the group stage.

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After these contrasting fortunes at the beginning of the year, Ghana look to build on the short success of new coach Grant while Senegal return to rebuild under new manager and former national player Aliou Cisse.

Grant, who has said he intends to build on by keeping about 70% of the Afcon squad, named a couple of new young players in his squad for Saturday’s clash as well as the game against Mali at the end of month.

Former under-20 trio Seidu Salifu, Ebenezer Assifuah and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom are part of the updated squad of 22 players currently in camp. Assifuah, despite his fitness issues, has been made to remain in camp while Augsburg left-back Abdul Baba Rahman is ruled out with a toe injury together with Norway-based forward Mahatma Otoo.

Grant chose to replace them with Boakye-Yiadom and David Accam who also just returned to fitness after a month’s injury at his MLS club Chicago Fire.

Team captain Asamoah Gyan was not listed for the games due to a slight injury he is currently nursing at his club, Al Ain.

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Senegal, despite their failed outing, defeated the Black Stars 2-1 in their last meeting at the group stages of the 2015 Afcon and so will not be pushovers for Grant's side.

Goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Moussa Sow saw the Teranga Lions stage a comeback win after falling behind to an Andre Ayew match opener.

Besiktas striker Demba Ba makes a return to the team after his long troubles with former coach Alian Giresse and is expected to bring some experience and firepower as Cisse takes charge of his first official game.

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Aliou Cisse will be looking to hand fresh bloods – FC Barcelona defender Diawandou Diagne Niang, midfielder Cheikh Ndoye, goalkeeper Abdoulaye Diallo and Fiorentina forward Babacar Khouma their debuts as he begins to shape up his team.

Recent form

Ghana: W W W W L

Senegal: W W W D L

Previous clashes

January 1968 Ghana 2-2 Senegal African Nations Cup

November 1968 Ghana 2-0 Senegal International

September 1973 Ghana 3-2 Senegal African Nations Cup

September 1973 Senegal 1-0 (3-5) Ghana African Nations Cup

May 1982 Senegal 1-1 Ghana African Friendship Cup

August 1982 Ghana 2-2 Senegal Merdeka Tournament

October 1991 Senegal 3-2 Ghana CEDEAO Cup

March 1994 Senegal 0-1 Ghana African Nations Cup

August 2005 Ghana 0-0 Senegal International

January 2006 Ghana 1-0 Senegal African Nations Cup

August 2007 Ghana 1-1 Senegal International

January 2015 Ghana 1-2 Senegal African Nations Cup

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Squads

Ghana:

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Mirandes, Spain), Fatau Dauda (AshGold)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), John Boye (Erciyesspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester City, England), Gyimah Edwin (Mpumalanga Black Aces, South Africa), Daniel Amartey, (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Midfielders: Rabiu Mohammed (Krasnodar, Russia), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Sampdoria, Italy), Solomon Asante (T.P. Mazembe, DR Congo), Christian Atsu (Everton, England), Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic, Scotland), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), Seidu Salifu (Club Africaine, Tunisia)

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Lorient, France), Kwesi Appiah (Crystal Palace, England), Ebenezer Assifuah (FC Sion, Switzerland), Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Atalanta, Italy), David Accam (Chicago Fire, U.S.A)

Senegal:

Goalkeepers: Bouna Coundoul, Abdoulaye Diallo, Lys Gomis, Pape Demba Camara

Defenders: Diawandou Diagne, Kara Mbodji, Lamine Sané, Papy Mison Djilobodji, Pape Ndiaye Souaré, Cheikh Mbengue, Boukary Dramé, Ibrahima Mbaye, Zarco Touré, Stéphane Badji

Midfielders: Cheikh Ndoye, Alfred Ndiaye, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Idrissa Gana Guèye, Pape Kouli Diop, Salif Sané, Salif Sané

Forwards: Dame Ndoye, Moussa Konaté, Moussa Sow, Demba Ba, Sadio Mané, Mame Biram Diouf, Babacar Khouma

Ghana play Mali in Paris on Tuesday after this game.

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