Someone’s mind is finally coming home.

Sulley Muntari says he would continue to remain loyal to Ghana despite concerns about his commitment to the Black Stars.

When that story made the news at the start of the week, my first thought was “no one is bigger than the national team after all.”

Remember when Muntari’s mum said without her son, there was no Black Stars? Well, Ghana called his bluff.

Muntari missed two of Ghana’s (crucial) 2010 World Cup qualifying matches this month. He said it was due to injury. Fair play to him.

Against Mali, Kwadwo Asamoah made some of us forget momentarily that Sulley was absent. Remember that 25-odd yarder? Well, in the end the Black Stars won 2-0.

Sections of the local media who doubted the Inter Milan player’s reasons for absenting himself had many conspiracy theories. Before then I had also taken a dig at the guy for an earlier incident in Kumasi.

No problem. Ghana then faced Sudan, again away, and once again, won without the man.

Obviously, the point has been well made by Milo that his team does not rely on a hard-and-fast set of core players, no matter how integral they may be.

And so Muntari broke his silence to respond to rife jabs at his loyalty to the national cause.

“I played for about two months of the season with an injury and sometimes I will train once a week and play on the weekend or not train at all.

“When the season ended I did a test and was told to rest.

“I could not have decided all of a sudden not to play for the country again.”

We like you, Muntari. Your contribution to this team has been great but please you are not bigger than the Stars. Never have, never will be.

Muntari’s - and those of other players - has seen the emergence of some young internationals which is expected to raise the level of competition for places in the team but Muntari says he welcomes it.

I say: you better.

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Beating Mali, the story and other games

This is the final summary of all the weekend's qualifiers.

Group A
Gabon made it two wins out of two as they easily beat 10-man Togo 3-0 in Libreville.

Togo were a goal down after just 11 minutes with Bruno Ecuele scoring and the Hawks were a man down after 40 minutes following the dismissal of Thomas Dossevi.

Roguy Meye and Moise Brou Apanga scored in the second half to complete a comfortable win for Gabon.

In the group's other game, Cameroon could only draw 0-0 against Morocco in Yaounde on Sunday.

The Indomitable Lions have failed to score so far in the second phase of qualifying.

Cameroon wasted several good scoring chances against the Atlas Lions.

Gabon take control of Group A, they top the group with six points.

Togo are on three, thanks to their win over Cameroon last time out.

Morocco are also struggling in Group A.

They are in third with one point, ahead of the Indomitable Lions who are bottom also with one point.

The next matches take place in two weeks time when Morocco host Togo and Cameroon travel to Gabon.

Group B
Tunisia beat Mozambique 2-0 in Rades in their Group B encounter.

Lens defender Alaeddine Yahia scored from the penalty spot after 21 minutes.

Oussama Darragi, from Tunisian champions Esperance, was then on target for the Carthage Eagles with their second goal in injury time at the end of the match.

Victor Obinna Nsofor scored a brace as Nigeria beat Kenya 3-0 in Abuja.

Ikechukwu Uche took advantage of a defensive slip to open the scoring for the Supereagles in only the second minute of the game.

Kenya had several chances to get into the game, but failed to convert any of them.

Obinna Nsofor scored twice in the second half to ensure the Supereagles wrapped up a comfortable home victory.

Tunisia remain top of the group with six points, Nigeria are second with four.

Mozambique stay in third with a point, Kenya are last and are yet to earn any points.

Tunisia go head-to-head with Nigeria in two weeks time, while Mozambique travel to Kenya.

Group C
Zambia edged past visitors Rwanda with a 1-0 win in Group C.

Rainford Kalaba headed home the only goal of the game in the 79th minute.

The margin of victory should have been larger for the Chipolopolo but Collins Mbesuma shot wide from the penalty spot late in the first half after Emmanuel Mbola was fouled.

The victory takes Zambia to four points, after they drew 1-1 with Egypt in the opening game of the final round of qualifiers.

Rwanda remain on just a single point from their two games.

Algeria shocked their North African rivals Egypt with a 3-1 triumph in Blida on Sunday.

Karim Matmour opened the scoring for the hosts in the 60th minute.

Goals from Abdelkader Ghezzal and Rafik Djebbour soon followed as the Desert Foxes opened a 3-0 lead over the six-times African champions.

Mohammed Aboutraika clawed one back from the visitors with three minutes to go, but it was nowhere near enough.

Algeria go top of the table with four points ahead of Zambia.

Egypt lie bottom, below Rwanda, with a solitary point.

The Pharoahs will hope to restore a semblance of hope to their 2010 World Cup campaign when they host Rwanda in a fortnight.

Algeria meanwhile travel to Zambia.

Group D
Benin were narrow 1-0 victors over Sudan in Cotonou.

Razak Omotoyossi's strike after 19 minutes proved to be the difference between the sides.

In the group's other tie, Ghana secured a 2-0 away victory over Mali.

Kwadwo Asamoah and Matthew Amoah were scorers of the two second half goals.

The Black Stars go back on top of Group D with six points, while Benin lie in second place with three points.

Sudan and Mali have one point each.

Next up for group leaders Ghana is a trip to Sudan, while Mali host Benin.

Group E
Burkina Faso kept up their 100% start to the final round of qualifiers with a 1-0 win over hosts Malawi.

Moumouni Dagano, who plays in Qatar, grabbed the only goal of the game in the 70th minute with a well-taken close-range volley past stranded goalkeeper, Swadik Sanudi.

It was Dagano's 10th goal in the World Cup campaign so far making him the top scorer on the continent for the 2010 qualifiers.

Malawi failed to create any clear chances while the Stallions played a better, more organised game and in the end were worthy winners.

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri blamed the loss on lack of thorough preparation.

"I always say we need strength-testing matches by real teams but we only played against Rwanda last week," he said.

"If we have to advance we need to prepare thoroughly."

The result gives the Stallions a maximum six points while Malawi are still to get their first point or even score their first goal.

Ivory Coast also made it two wins out of two when they beat Guinea 2-1 in Conakry.

Bakary Kone opened the scoring for the Elephants on the stroke of half time.

Sambegou Bangoura struck an equaliser for the home side halfway through the second half.

But Romaric scored what proved to be the winner seven minutes later and Ivory Coast top Group E with six points on goal difference.

Burkina Faso lie in second and the group's top two teams will face each other in Ouagadougou in a fortnight.

Guinea and Malawi prop up the group.

Both are yet to win a point.

That could change when Malawi travels to Conakry for the next round of matches.

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Prediction time!

Ghana - Mali WCQ: Mind games begin (4)

Black Stars head coach Milovan Rajevac says the absence of the duo of captain Stephen Appiah and Sulley Muntari will not wreck their efforts as they play the Eagles of Mali in Sunday's 2010 World Cup qualifier.

The Serbian believes he has aback-up plan to make up for the losses of the duo as the three pointswill be crucial in playing at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Appiah withdrew from the squad citing family crises in Italy and Muntari also pulled out of the squad claiming he was undergoing treatment at Inter Milan.

Rajevac can rely on Kwadwo Asamoah and Moussa Narry to hold the fort in their absence and he is confident of getting a favourable results.

"We have the players to match our opponents and we hope to make thedesired impact to improve our chances of qualifying," Rajevac is quoted by the Daily Graphic.

"We know how important it is to get the something out of the Mali and Sudan games and we will not disappoint our fans."

The Stars arrived in Bamako last night and will train later today before the game on Sunday.

Ghana - Mali WCQ: Mind games begin (3)

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is confident the Black Stars will beat Mali on Sunday to enhance their chances of reaching their second successive World Cup.

The 28-year-old, who has been excused from national team duties, has called his national team colleagues in Bamako to encourage them ahead of the crucial clash.

Appiah was left out of the squad because of a pressing family problem but after talking to his colleagues, the enforcer insists Ghana will be victorious.

“I have spoken to Michael (Essien) and some of the guys. They will definitely be giving it their best without a doubt and are going out there for the win,” Appiah said on his personal website www.stepapp.com.

“I understand the preparations have been good and the GFA and management team are doing everything they can to ensure we secure all 3 points in Bamako.

“I will like to wish them the best of luck and like every Ghanaian I am praying that they do well.

“We should all support them because we all want to be in South Africa come 2010.”

Appiah has received overwhelming public support for his unattached status despite criticism for a small minority of fans.

The Ghana captain is grateful for the support and insists he will never turn his back on his country.

“I am pleasantly surprised by the support I have received from the majority of Ghanaians” Appiah said.

“Those who know the real Stephen Appiah know that I will never turn Ghana down if called up unless there is a genuine reason like this one.

“I am thankful to the GFA and coaching team for understanding the situation and supporting me.

“All the rumours that I pulled out because of previous criticisms are untrue. Criticism is part of our sport and I have no issues with people expressing their opinions. It will not stop me from answering a Black Stars call - NEVER!

“The focus should not be about Appiah but the national team doing well and I will urge all Ghanaians to support the team (today) and in Sudan in a few weeks.

“Good luck and best wishes to the Black Stars. I am fully behind you all,” Appiah concluded.
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Ghana - Mali WCQ: Mind games begin (2)

Mali head coach Stephen Keshi says his disappointment in securing the Black Stars job a year-ago has been his inspiration to beat Ghana in today's 2010 combined Nations Cup/World Cup qualifier at home.

Keshi claims his application for the job after the exit of Frenchman Claude Le Roy last March was treated with scorn by the Ghana FA.

"It is being rumoured that they played below their capacity, yet they are top the table," said the Nigeria-born coach.

"Let everyone else be fooled by the performance of the Black Stars but count me out, I won't fall for this.

"I know the quality of the Ghanaian side and I will not allow a single performance to distort the reality about their strength."

The Ex-Nigeria defender masterminded Togo's qualification to the 2006 World Cup but was not sacked before the finals in Germany.

The 47-year-old took charge of the Eagles last year and has expressed his determination to repeat the feat chalked with Togo.

Mali are second in Group D, two points behind leaders Ghana.
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Ghana - Mali WCQ: Mind games begin (1)

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien says the Black Stars are going all outfor maximum points when they take on Mali in a World Cup qualifier today.

The Chelsea ace joined his Black Stars colleagues on early on Friday morning after a court appearance in Accra over his ex-girlfriend.

Despite his court appearance for two days, the midfielder was spotted in East Legon, a suburb of Accra, jogging at night to keep him fit for the Mali tie.

Essien insists that he is mentally focused for the crucial clash and he is confident the Black Stars can rake all three points in the game in Bamako.

“I have put behind me everything as we are all firmly focused for this game,” Essien told Ghanasoccernet.

“We are all ready to die for our country and I know we will succeed.

“We are not going for draw as we want the maximum three points in Mali. We have been to the World Cup and we want to go there again.”

Ghana will maintain top spot in Group Four if they beat the Malians in their backyard.
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Clottey vs Cotto: fasting and prayers!

Ahead of Joshua Clottey's crunch duel with Miguel Cotto and the Ghana-Mali World/African Cup qualifier, the Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning has called for for a two-week fasting and prayer period for the combatants.

"The GBA has already started the exercise, but we will formally launch it at the Royal House Chapel in Accra this Sunday," the GBA boss said in a telephone interview.

We're going spiritual now. I see.

He added: "We want to dedicate the bout as well as the Stars' away game against Mali on Sunday to God, to make the grounds softer."

The boxing boss revealed that the enormity of the two assignments stirred his outfit to embark on the spiritual exercise, which according to him, coupled with their training will bring honours to Ghana.

Clottey 35-2 (20 KOs) and nicknamed "The Hitter", is scheduled to fight WBO welterweight champion Cotto on June 13 at the Madison Square Gardens, New York.

The Ghanaian has predicted to end the fight in round four or five over his opponent:

"Maybe after four or five rounds with me he'll want to quit. I'm going to stop him."

The Stars who lead the Group D table are in Bamako this weekend to play their Malian counterparts in their World/Africa Cup qualifier.

Clottey spoke in a video interview, too, recently.



Let's hope the fasting work!
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Essien makes it into final 22

I'm told that Ghana would leave the northern city of Tamale this afternoon for the weekend’s 2010 World Cup qualifying against Mali on June 7.

But the sqaud leaves with one more key addition: Michael Essien.

The Chelsea man joins the Stars team after completing his cross examination at an Accra High Court in a case in which his ex-girlfriend is seeking to clarify the status of their relationship in a divorce compensation claim.

Essien’s availability is expected to hand Milovan Rajevac a further boost in a preparation which has suffered some setbacks following key withdrawals.The Serbian coach already is without Laryea Kingston, Derek Boateng, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.

Essien's return would certainly excite Rajevac who rates his midfielder as one of the best in the World. And on that note here is the final squad list selected to play on Sunday.

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan Athletic, England), George Owu (Al Masry, Egypt)

Defenders : John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Samuel Inkoom (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), John Mensah (Lyon, France), Jonathan Quartey (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland)

Midfielders: Isaac Vorsah (Hoffeinham, Germany), Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios FC, Greece) Samuel Kyere (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt) Haminu Draman (FC Locomotiv Moskva, Russia)

Strikers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Samuel Yeboah (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Prince Tagoe (Al-Ittifaq, Saudi Arabia) Joe Tex Frimpong (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland), Opoku Agyemang (Al Sadd, Qatar), Papa Arko (El Geish, Egypt)

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