Black stars skipper, Andre Ayew believes the lads are focused ahead of Ghana’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.

According to Ayew, victory over Walias of Ethiopia will be a great first step on the road to Qatar 2022.

Ghana are poised to make a fourth appearance in the global showpiece, having missed out of the 2018 gathering in Russia, halting a run of three successive appearances between 2006 and 2014.

“We’re totally focused on the task ahead of us. We want to start this World Cup qualification really well at home, so we’re ready, we’re well prepared,” Ayew, who featured at the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“Now is the time to go and do the job. We know that it’s six games, but this is the first one and we want to start with a great victory in front of our fans.

“Jonathan [Mensah], Jordan [Ayew] and [Mubarak] Wakaso are all players who have played at the World Cup, and we know what it is. We know the power behind it, we know the level of football behind it and what especially it brings to the people of Ghana and the nation, so we know that we have to do our job.

“[We have to] make sure that we guide the boys really well and make sure that we personally individually perform to make it happen. But it’s a long journey. It’s a marathon, six games, and it starts tomorrow.”

Ghana will do without Thomas Partey and Ajax playmaker Mohammed Kudus for Friday’s match due to injuries sustained in their respective club sides.

After Friday’s clash with Ethiopia, Ghana will make their way to Johannesburg for a matchday two showdown with South Africa at the FNB Stadium.