Ghana On The Brink Of Qualifying
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Ghana are among two countries standing on the brink of becoming the first to emerge from the African preliminaries and qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
But even if Ghana win Sunday’s Group D qualifier at home against Sudan in Accra (kick off 17h00 GMT), their confirmation as World Cup finalists will only be guaranteed if other results go their way.
Ghana will qualify if they beat Sudan in Accra on Sunday and if the other Group D match between Mali and Benin ends inconclusively.
The Black Stars are expected to win a fourth game on the trot against the bottom placed side but will have an eye on proceedings in Cotonou as well, where Mali are fighting for their survival.
“We have not qualified yet and I will demand absolute concentration in these last three matches. And I will be looking out for those players who are ready to sacrifice with me to achieve the ultimate,” Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said in the build-up to the match.
He has already lamented the absence through injury of striker Kwadwo Asamoah and Prince Tagoe, whose medical circumstances threaten his future career. Derek Boateng from Spanish club Getafe has been brought in as late cover.
Sudan will be seeking their first win of the campaign and have as their priority taking home at least another point to keep up their hopes of qualifying for a second successive African Nations Cup finals.
The future of coach Stephen Constantine is also under threat after his failure to yet win a match since taking charge just before the start of the final phase of the 2010 African qualifiers.
