Kwesi Appiah will want to focus on addressing Ghana's shortcomings ahead of their clash with Mali but is confident youngster, Christian Atsu will prove his worth.

The promising youngster made a slow start in his Africa Cup of Nations debut as the Black Stars drew with DR Congo 2-2 in the opening Group B fixture on Sunday.

However, Appiah says Atsu has the will to shine despite struggling in his first game on the big stage.

“[Christian] Atsu is one of the young talents that every Ghanaians relied on to start very well in such a competition,” the Ghana coach said on Monday.

“You can be the best player in the world but once you go into a competition that you have not been in before, you may start slowly.”

Atsu, was one of the five players who were handed maiden starts at the competition and the Ghana coach believes the 21-year-old with confidence will reproduce his true form.

“But I have been talking to him. We need to raise his confidence level and psyche him up and I believe that even though he did not have a good game along the line, we will see the real Atsu.”