However, his discharge has refocused the discussion on the match as the two sides take their turn in the opening group games in what has been dubbed a “Super Monday”.
Amid the talk was also the question of whether Gyan, reportedly diagnosed with malaria, would be fit to lead his charges.Beside the talk and wait on Gyan, both the Black Stars and the Teranga Lions admit this opening game will be a tough one but are very prepared to surmount the challenge, each side professing to have the winning antidote to this battle.
Despite the seemingly rivalry between the two sides in association football, their paths have hardly crossed in AFCON tournaments.
With their previous records and current form on the table, both sides are brimming with confidence ahead of this titanic clash.
Of course, the Stars are four times winners of the AFCON, never mind the last time was over 33 years ago.
In the last four editions of the tournament, they had finished among the final four – third in 2008 when they hosted it, second in 2010 when they painfully lost the final to Egypt in Angola, third in 2012 and fourth in 2013′ when Mali had sweet revenge.
It is the combination of this consistency and potential of winning, as well as the pain of being so close yet missing the ultimate, that is driving the youthful Stars side to dare the Teranga Lions to a battle that they are ready to throw in everything and give it their all to win.
The two sides have clashed in five AFCON matches, the last one in 2006 when Ghana ended 1-0 winners, boasting of a 4-1 record win in their five meetings.
Though Coach Avram Grant may be facing his first challenge on the African terrain, he seems focused and unshaken, even when reminded about the fact that his team might still be reeling from their Brazil 2014 fiasco.
Besides, the team looks like a make over from the one that went all the way to final in 2010 or even the last edition, with the regular faces, among others, being captain Asamoah Gyan, Andre Dede Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Jonathan Mensah, Harrison Afful and goalkeeper Fatau Dauda.
Grant’s reaction is “yes! there may be changes in the team and I was not in charge then. But the desire and drive to excel now as they did then, is a big motivation as well as the knowledge that they have been selected for a job and that must be well executed is half the battle won.”
From a distance, it is difficult to predict what the Israeli (new to this job, but experienced in the game) will be throwing at the Senegalese, but if their training sessions are anything to go by, then the Elephants have a fight on their hands.
(Selorm) | 
(Nana Kwesi)