Saturday, June 20, 2009

Sudan - Ghana preview

Sudan - Ghana

Venue:
Al Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman

World Cup/ Nations Cup qualifier

Saturday 20 June 2009

Kickoff: 1730 GMT

So, the Black Stars have left Kenya for Sudan. Today, they play in this important World/Nations Cup qualifier. A win for Ghana would surely mean they are through to Angola - at the very least. A fortnight ago, the Ghanaians were powered to a fine 2-0 win over Mali in Bamako.

Not too far from there - in the African sense - is Omdurman. There, Sudan would love to cause an upset and beat Ghana.

Ghana are at the top of Group 4 with six points and a victory will boost their chances of making their second World Cup finals appearance.

Sudan, on the other hand, lost 1-0 to Benin and complicated their chances of qualifying for South Africa. Yet, the door to Angola 2010 is not closed to them as yet.They are with only one point from two games.

After training in Kenya and beating locals Oserian FC 3-0, the Black Stars will have to do without important players such as skipper Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan, Laryea Kingston.

Defender John Paintsil (suspended) will miss the game and feels a bit down - but not out:

"Yes, It's two things now. First of all I feel disappointed I am not with the team that am not playing because I have two yellow cards but am confident of a win," Paintsil told ghanasoccernet.
"What I can say now is that each and every one of us is prepared to die for the nation and there's competition.

"So am not panicking now. I have full confidence in the team that travelled to Sudan and I believe that they are going to deliver."
Samuel Yeboah was included in the squad to strengthen the attacking line.

Meanwhile Sudan's coach Stephen Constantine is also as optimistic as Paintsil yet he is keeping his cards close to his bosom, as he told BBC Sport:

"It'll be a very tough game but we're looking forward to it."

"We believe we can cause an upset. "Obviously it's a big game for us here in Sudan, playing against a team like Ghana with all their European stars."


Sudan full squad:

Bahaeldin Abdallah, Mahjoub El Moez, Mohamed Ali Khider, Ahmed Al Basha, Musa Al Tayeb, Amir Damar, Alaeldin Ahmed Gibril, Khalid Hassan, Yousef Alaeldin, Omer Bakheit, Badreldin El Doud, Saifeldin Ali Idris, Hassan Isaac Korongo, Rashard Justin Lado, Mugahid Mohamed, Haitham Mostafa, Mohamed Tahir, Abdelhamid Amari, Faisal Agab, Alaeldin Babiker, Haitham Tambal.

Ghana full squad:

Richard Kingson, George Owu, John Mensah, Eric Addo, Isaac Vorsah, Micheal Essien, Mousa Narry, Samuel Kyere, Samuel Inkoom, Bernard Kumordji, Ernest Papa Arko, Prince Tagoe, Kodjo Asamoah, Mathew Amoah, Opoku Agyeman, Junior Manuel Agogo, Haminu Dramani, Joe-tex Frimpong, Anthony Annan.

Officials:

Centre: Jamel Ambaya (Libya)

Assistants: Abdulfatah Etriki/Ibrahim Farkash (Libya).

Fourth official: Mohamed Imhamed (Libya)

Prediction

Sudan 1-3 Ghana

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