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Ghana star Andre Ayew has revealed illness affected his preparations for the Black Stars opening match at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The forward started and last the entire duration of the game on Monday as Black Stars were beaten 1-0 by one of the favourites Morocco.

"I have not been feeling well for the past two days, I wanted to play, my colleagues wanted me on the pitch and I did everything because I have been waiting for this for 3 years now, we lost and I was unlucky to add a cut on my eye to it," Ayew said.

Morocco scored in the 83rd minute through attacker Sofiane Boufal with the Black Stars failing to impress at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde.

The defeat puts pressure on the Black Stars to win their next two games.

However, Ayew is firm in his conviction that his team will win against Gabon and Comoros to secure qualification to the next stage.

“I think we can get through and we will get through cos it is our duty and we will make sure we qualify to the next stage. We lost the first game in 2010, 2015 but we pulled through. We were not expecting this start but we will make it.”

Ghana will be in action again on Friday when they take on Gabon in the second Group C game.