Mensah, Paintsil and Illiasu Out

... Essien to play in central defence?
Captain John Mensah and John Paintsil are both doubts for Ghana's Group A game on Thursday against against Namibia in Accra.

Paintsil suffered concussion in the 2-1 win over Guinea and a ccording to fellow players, remembered little of the game. He was eventually carried off on a stretcher in the final minute. He was later to taken to hospital for observation but released.

Paintsil was flown yesterday to Nigeria for an MRI scan. The move was necessary as the scanning equipment in Accra is out of order, LeRoy told AFP.

The coach added: "John got a knock in the first half. At the interval he couldn't remember anything that had happened in the previous 45 minutes. He's flying out for a scan as a precaution."

Mensah did not train as he nursed a thigh strain and Paintsil is still being watched by the Black Stars' medical team, coach Le Roy said.

Central defender Shilla Illiasu has yet to recover from the ankle injury that kept him out of the opening game against Guinea on Sunday.

It's pretty strange that (Francis) Dickoh, who was fit and in form at his club, was dropped for a half fit Illiasu.

Ghana will have to reshuffle her defence for the game against Namibia.