The chairman of the Black Stars management committee Mr George Afriyie  says the team is  in better shape than recent years to challenge for the afcon competition.

George Afryie believes preparation so far at the team's camp base in the UAE gIves a very strong indication that the Black Stars are going to be the team to beat in the Afcon as each and every player has given a good account of himself at training.

The Black is playing its first friendly later on Tuesday against Asian side Bunyodkor and Mr george afriyie sees  the inclusion of some "new boys" into the team makes the team gives the coach a lot of option to improve his performance."

"Am sure Avram is also aware our recent matches have not gone on that well so am sure he is making sure that he will give some the new boys the chance to see if the can bring the needed results, he said.

"You can see very intense competition among the players everybody hoping to catch the eye of the coach.I wish they  can translate what we are witnessing now into the competition proper.

"But I have no doubt, we'v been part of several preparations  for major competitions and  when you see this kind of things, it is a clear sign of the determination and the focus of the team."

Tuesday's friendly  comes at a time when most of the teams Ghana planned to play against seem to have wrapped up their program and playing  the Uzbekistan giant Bunyodkor offers Coach Avram Grant a good chance to put his team into fine fettle.

The Black Stars are expected to play another friendly later in the week to before they move to Gabon for the tournament

By:Fiifi Abdul Malik