It's very tough but we are hoping to qualify - Gyan

Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan says the Black Stars are in Equatorial Guinea to perform and are focused on qualifying from a "very tough group" and go as far as they can.

"We don’t really know how far we can go but we came here to perform. Everybody came here to perform. What matters is to qualify from the group stages and then we think ahead. We're in the group of death and it's going to be very tough, that’s why we are hoping to qualify. When we qualify we got a better chance," the Al Ain forward said.

A major doubt for the opener against Senegal because of sickness, Gyan said remaining fit during the tournament would be key for the Black Stars hopes.

"Our fans should just keep on praying for us to be fit; that’s the most important. When we are fit, anything can be fine. So they should keep on praying for us and everything will be fine in God's name," Gyan said.

The Black Stars get their campaign for a fifth title against Senegal in Mongomo before facing Algeria and South Africa.