Who will qualify alongside Ghana from Group D? - 2009

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Who will qualify alongside Ghana from Group D?

01-17-2012

Who will qualify alongside Ghana from Group D?

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Ghana has been cited as co-favourites alongside Ivory Coast for the title at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals. The race to succeed Egypt who incidentally beat Ghana in the final in the last edition of the competition in Luanda begins this Saturday with many expecting The Blacks stars to at least reach the final on the 12^th of February. After making the final in Angola 2010, achieving a quarter final place at the 2010 World Cup a few months later in South Africa vindicated those who talked of the re-emergence of the Black Stars on the continental scene. Ghana was the first team to win Africa Cup of Nations four times before the Pharaohs of Egypt caught up and surpassed them. They won their last trophy 30 years ago, in 1982 in Libya. Abedi Pele was making his debut in the competition then just before he turned 18. He would later become a passionate fan of the team with his two sons in the team; Andre who played in Angola and Jordan an emerging attacker who celebrated his 20th birthday last September. With chief striker Asamoah Gyan, the goal merchant of the team currently struggling with an injury, the Ayew brothers could form a wonderful attacking pair. Besides the Ayew brothers Ghana will also count on a solid defence comprising John Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, John Paintsil and Isaac Vorsah, an effective midfield commanded by Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Derek Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan and the experienced Sulley Muntari. Many will take keen interest in Adam Kwarasey who plays in Norway and who will have the daunting task of succeeding Richard Kingston. The team has the resources to make up for 30 years of disappointment.

The unknown quantity and breath of fresh air in Group D will come in the form of debutants Botswana. The Zebras stunned everyone to emerge first of its group in the qualifiers ahead of Tunisia having beaten the Carthage Eagles twice. The team’s defence showed stamina by conceding just three goals in eight matches with the side scoring only eight goals in the qualifiers. Botswana will be one of the major attractions of the competition. According to the Zebras coach Stanley Tsoshane, it is the fruit of several years of hard work and rebuilding of the team. And the coach seems to have jealously guarded the secret of his team, which many will discover on the pitch. He will however have to battle hard against Guinea and Mali if he hopes to go far in the competition.

The Syli National’s best performance in recent years was in 2004 where they reached the quarter final. The team then led by Aboubakar Titi Camara, today Minister of Youth and Sports, was eliminated at the quarter final by Mali through Mahamadou Diarra who scored the decisive goal in extra time while Pascal Feindouno had opened score for Guinea. The team also reached the quarter final in 2006 in Egypt only to be eliminated by Senegal. The team then suffered a 5-0 defeat against Ivory Coast in the quarter finals in Ghana edition of the competition. Four years later, the Syli National has made a comeback with a mix of competitive players such as Feindouno, Morlaye Cissé, Kamil Zayatte, Oumar Kalabane, Ismaël Bangoura as well as a youngster like Abdoul Razzagui Camara who will be playing his first Cup of Nation finals. Guinea is yet to win the trophy but seems to have the resources to reach the quarter final for the fourth consecutive time. Qualification at the expense of Nigeria boosts the hopes of its supporters and fans.

Mali narrowly missed the trophy in 1972 will also be contesting for a quarter final place. The team has often gone beyond expectation and reached the semi-final twice, in 1994 and in 2002 at home. Mali nonetheless bungled its chances within the last ten years while it had formidable midfielders like Diarra, Keita and Sissoko and a great attacker like Federic Oumar Kanoute. The team seems to have made a comeback and is capable of mounting a challenge.Nothing seems clear cut in this group in spite of the much talked about Ghanaian passage to the quarter final stage.

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