Accra, Sept. 28, GNA - Ghana's senior national team, Black Stars will pitch their strength against Benin, Guinea and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a four nation tourney fixed from November 17 - 21 this year.
The five-day championship being organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is to fine-tune the preparations of the Black Stars for next year's Africa Cup of Nations and has been tentatively fixed for the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Accra and Kumasi respectively.
Fred Pappoe, Chairman of the Black Stars Management Team told a news conference in Accra on Friday that the tournament forms part of activities designed to keep the Stars in top shape for the Ghana 2008 tourney as the nation seeks to win the trophy for the fifth time. The tourney is also to afford Ghanaian football fans a rare opportunity to see their top stars in action before the January 20 - February 10 Championships.
Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA confirmed the participation of all the three countries, saying each side is capable of giving the Stars a good run for their money.
Guinea is ranked fourth in Africa and is the highest ranked team among the top four clubs who will be competing in the forthcoming championship, while Benin is perched at the 82nd position and are in strong contention with Togo and Mali for the Group Nine slot for the continental fiesta.
The United Arab Emirates comes to the competition after a disastrous outing from the Asian Cup where they bowed out after the first round.
The competition is also to afford coach Claude Le Roy an opportunity to try out some new players in his quest to build a formidable team for the team and to restore the confidence of the passionate Ghanaian sporting public before commencement of the Mundial.