Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac watched events pass in Cabinda with no incidents as Burkina Faso held Ivory Coast to a goalless draw in the three-team group.
Ghana, originally scheduled to play Togo later Monday, were left with no opponent on the opening day of matches with the Hawks flying out of Angola on Sunday following the death of two members of its delegation in an ambush last week before the tournament started.
However, Rajevac will make his Nations Cup debut with Ghana when the Black Stars begin its campaign on Friday against Ivory Coast.
Tournament favorite Ivory Coast will be rounding up their group campaign just when Ghana is about starting the competition after struggling to breakdown a disciplined Burkina Faso side.
But Rajevac is refusing to accept that the pre-tournament favorites are missing any guile ahead of the game in Cabinda.
With the prospect of an early exit starring at the Ivorians should a Ghana victory occur, Rajevac expects a tough approach from Vahid Halilhodzic’s side.
"Yes, I watched the opening match but you that it is normally difficult for any team in the first match," Rajevac told Ghanasoccernet.com
"We will give our best on Friday and try to win (against Ivory Coast). For them this result is not the best and against us they will try to win and we will do our best.
"Both teams are experienced and they know each other very well. Burkina played defensive, very good closing and Ivory Coast missed very good chances to close and open the defence."