Injury Crises Hit Stars

SEGOU, Mali, Jan 19 -- Ghana are battling against time to get several of their top stars fit for the Group B match against Morocco here on Monday, team officials said.

Czech-based Baffour Djan, Derek Boateng, Michael Essien, who plays in France with Bastia, and the much-travelled Prince Amoakoh all face a late battle to be ready for the tie with Morocco's 'Atlas Lions.'

Essien, one of five players drafted into the side from the Under-20 team to the last World Youth Championship in Argentina, is nursing an ankle injury and only resumed training Friday, officials told AFP.

Striker Boateng, who plays for Greek giants Panathiniakos, is grappling with a calf complaint while Amoakoh has a sore heel.

"We only hope they will be fit before our first game," assistant coach Francis Oti-Akenteng said.

"Baffour's injury is the most disturbing but the doctors have assured us they will work round the clock to ensure they get them going again."

The team official added: "The hardness of the pitch where we have been training is the main cause of these injuries."

The Black Stars were one of the first teams to arrive in Mali for the African Nations Cup when they settled in here last week Friday.

The youthful Ghanaian team, with an average age of roughly 24, face a very stern test here Monday against a Moroccan side still trying to come to terms with failure to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

South Africa and Burkina Faso are the other teams in the Group.