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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Caf, Diakite, Keshi and Mali: the conspiracy

The talk in the Ghanaian media is of a fantastic conspiracy of a racy nature going on in the Confederation of African football (Caf).

The players in the apparent scheme are coach Stephen Keshi of Mali and Amadou Diakite, the Chairman of Caf's Referees Committee.

They are said to be in cahoots to 'fix' the crucial game between Ghana and Mali in Bamako.

Stephen Keshi is said to have asked Diakite 'to do something' about the unfair officiating Mali faces in continental games. He is also reported to have hinted that other African nations who 'have big people in Caf' get referees that are favourable to them, so why should Mali be left out?

Although I have searched all over the web for links to this story, I have to admit that I have not found a single one - conspiracy or otherwise - anywhere to get quotes from.

Obviously this is a very sensitive topic and it is drawing different reactions from the general public in Ghana. While some believe it is very possible, others have just brushed it off as tittle-tattle.

For those who believe it, they point to the widely held belief that Keshi launched a similar campaign to help Togo get to the World Cup. They hold that General Seyi Memene, the first Vice President of Caf was publicly nudged to help the Hawks of Togo qualify for Germany.

I should state, though, that these claims have not been substantiated nor proven anywhere.

Keshi, who is known for his mind games, may yet be playing on the nerves of the Black Stars ahead of this Sunday's match. How much these would affect them remains to be seen.

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