All attention at this year's continental championship turns to Group F where the Black Stars of Ghana and Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels) of Benin will battle for three points in a few hours time.
The match will be the second game of the group, with current holders Cameroon set to take on Guinea-Bissau in the first match of the day.
It will be an interesting match at the Ismailia Stadium where four-time champions face minnows Les Ecureuils on Tuesday.
Who comes up tops? Will it be the Black Stars seeking to register the kind of win that reflects their ambition of winning a first continental title since 1982, or The Squirrels who are eyeing a famous surprise that would no doubt rate as their biggest ever result at the continental showpiece?
Only time will time.
But before the friendly hostilities on the pitch commences, Peacefmonline has stumbled on the Black Stars line-up for the encounter with their counterparts from Benin.
It appears Ghana's coach Kwesi Appiah is naming three debutants Lumor Agbeyenu, Kasim Nuhu and Thomas Agyepong in his starting line-up to face Benin.
But Inter Milan versatile defender Kwadwo Asamoah and the country's all-time top scorer Asamoah Gyan will start from the bench. The trio will be supported by experienced stars like Jordan Ayew who leads the attack with his brother and team captain Andre supporting him up front.
Appiah has chosen Spain-based duo Mubarak Wakaso and Thomas Partey in the middle of the park.
Maritzburg United No.1 Richard Ofori has maintained his place between the sticks with Andy Yiadom as right back.
Agbeyenu starts as left back ahead of Baba Rahman and the centre-back pair will be John Boye and Kasim Nuhu.
In-form winger Agyepong gets to start despite playing just nine matches on loan at Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.
Also on the wings will be Christian Atsu who comes into the tournament after an impressive season with Newcastle United in the English Premier League.
The match will be played at the Ismailia Stadium at 20:00 GMT after the Group opener between Cameroon and Guinea Bissau.
Ghana's starting XI to face Benin:
Richard Ofori, Andy Yiadom, Lumor Agbeyenu, John Boye, Kasim Nuhu, Mubarak Wakaso, Thomas Partey, Thomas Agyepong, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew.
Benin Supporters Optimistic Against Ghana
Meanwhile, fans of the Squirrels are confident their team will beat Ghana in their Group F match this evening. In a video uploaded on Youtube by Sammy Bartels, scores of supporters interviewed in Cotonou, the capital, highly fancied the team's chances against their West-African neighbours.
Watch video below:
Who Is Injured or Suspended for Ghana vs Benin?
Benin will be without their inspirational captain Stéphane Sessègnon in today’s clash.
He will be serving a suspension after receiving a red card in the team’s final Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria.
Sessègnon, who was once starred for PSG, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, among others, but now plys his trade for Turkish club Gençlerbirliği, is lighting quick and one of the highly dependable players for the Benin team at this year’s Cup of Nations tournament.
He is so versatile that he can play on the left, on the right, through the middle in a variety of positions as a forward, a winger and as a midfield playmaker.
Head-to-head record of Ghana vs Benin
Ghana have won two, drawn one and lost one of four meetings with Benin.
Source: Peacefmonline.com with additional files from Ghanasoccernet
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