Local Black Stars face Sierra Leone in WAFU opener on Thursday

The Local Black Stars will lock horns with Sierra Leone in the opening game of the 2013 WAFU Zone B tournament at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Ghana is paired with Sierra Leone, Benin and Burkina Faso in Group A of the tournament.

The other Group A match will be played in the evening when Benin takes on Burkina Faso at the same venue.

"I will entreat Ghanaians to troop to the stadium to support the Local Black Stars. This is the team that will represent Ghana at the CHAN tournament in South Africa. The team will go outside the country after this tournament for pre season training in order to be in good shape ahead of the CHAN Championship," Ghana FA Vice President, Fred Crentsil said on Asempa FM.

In Group B, defending champions Togo are the top seeds and they will face competition from Niger, Senegal and Gabon, who will play on Friday.

Ghana are using this eight-team tournament to prepare for next January’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in South Africa.