Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images-Stanbic Coach Kwasi Appiah is reported to have welcomed the possible return of four key players to augment his team before the Black Stars engage Zambia in the penultimate fixture in Group D, when the Chipolopolo visit Kumasi in September.
According to Ibrahim Sanni Darra, the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, interviewed on Joy Sports from the Black Stars camp in South Africa, the return of the four prodigal sons - Michael Essien, Prince Kelvin-Boateng, Andre Dede Ayew and Jordan Ayew - would provide the national coach with more materials to work with.
Before the returnees are given the opportunity to assert themselves, the Black Stars will line up against Lesotho in Maseru on Sunday in an engagement which the Black Stars must win, if they should have any realistic chance of playing in the last round of qualifying series before Brazil 2014.
The emphatic 3-1 victory recorded by the Black Stars over Sudan at Omdurman, at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, cannot go unnoticed in the rest of Africa. It must be one of the most emphatic results in the qualifying series.
The news in the score-line is that the national team of Ghana had to play most parts of the game with ten men, after tough-tackling Kissi Boateng had been given the marching orders in giving away a penalty in the first half.
After a rather subdued performance when Ghana lost to Zambia in their opening game, the Black Stars are gradually becoming the team that made Africa proud on two successive occasions in the World Cup. Ghana's emphatic results in three subsequent matches have earned the recognition of the Federation of International Football Associations which has rated Ghana above five times World Champions Brazil. The Black Stars are ranked 21, with Brazil, certainly the most successful football nation on earth, ranked 22.
After losing 0-1 to the Chipolopolo in Lusaka, the Black Stars thumbed Lesotho 7-0 in Kumasi, whipped Sudan 4-0 in Kumasi, before going to the confluence of the two Niles to finish off the Nile Crocodiles 3-1. The outing of the Ghanaian national team cannot go unnoticed in Africa, especially.
On Sunday, when the Black Stars take on Lesotho in Maseru, there would be many within and outside the continent willing the national team on to reach the last 10, and eventually book a place in Brazil among the five chosen ones in Africa.
Apart from the four prodigal sons, who are likely to be available in September, Coach Akwasi Appiah has the full complements of his team. That is why many are urging the coach to abandon the one-top agenda and go for an all attacking machinery, with national skipper Asamoah Gyan leading from the front and ably assisted by Mubarak Wakaso.
With his two goals against Sudan in Omdurman on Friday, Asamoah Gyan is now the all-time top scorer in Ghana football. His partnership with Wakaso, who was a revelation in the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, will put pressure on the home team to concede.
The midfield, usually the engine of Ghana football, is expected to gel with Sulley Muntari leading Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah and dribbling magician Christian Atsu. In defence, I expect Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Inkoom and John Boye to shield Fatau Dauda in goal.
Ghanaian manager Kwasi Appiah paid his complements to Lesotho when he told newsmen thus: "Lesotho have a very good team. Even though we beat them 7-0 in Ghana, I believe they have a good team and they have proved that in their games against Zambia and Sudan."
Even then, Ghanaians expect and the Black Stars ought to deliver. The Ghanaians cannot afford to slip up. Even a draw could prove disastrous if Zambia beat Sudan. Nothing but victory would be good enough for Ghana. Every person at the centre of the earth expects and the Black Stars are on notice to deliver.
On Sunday, while the Black Stars engage Lesotho in Maseru, the Chipolopolo of Zambia takes on the Nile Crocodiles in an engagement that is expected to be equally heated. Sudan defeated Zambia 2-0 in the first leg battle in Sudan. Somehow, the home team contrived to field an unregistered player and was declared losers of the game by a 3-0 margin.
Sudan have never recovered from that set-back and now draw the rear in Group D with a solitary point from four matches. If they get a draw in Lusaka, it would not only excite their countrymen in Sudan, their feat would be equally celebrated on the streets of Accra and other cities, towns and villages in Ghana.
The three points credited to Zambia in that game with Sudan gave them a head start in the group and have never looked back since.
In Group A, Ethiopia have set a cracking pace, leading South Africa by two points going into the last but one game. Tomorrow, the two giants in the group come face to face in Addis Ababa. If Ethiopia win the match, South Africa would have to kiss good-bye to the World Cup until the 2018 championship in Russia.
Even a draw might not save South Africa. It would mean that they would have to win the last game against Botwana and hope that Ethiopia stumble in Central Africa Republic. Botwana, with a lone point in four outings are definitely out of contention. So are the players from the Central African Republic with three points from their opening day's 2-0 home win over Botswana.
In Group B, Tunisia are almost there. With 10 points from four matches, they would have to lose their two remaining games before they could be caught by Sierra Leone on five points. They travel to Equatorial Guinea this week-end and end their innings at home to Cape Verde.
Ivory Coast in Group C, are in a similar position to Tunisia. With 10 points from four matches, they only need one win to ensure a spot in the last 10. The Elephants travel to Tanzania this week-end before coming home to face the Atlas Lions of Morocco in September.
Tanzania, on six points and Morocco on five points are playing catch-up. With only two matches to end the proceedings, both appear to be too late in the day to pose any threat to the Ivorians.
After a long time of hibernation in African football, Congo (Brazzaville), African continental champions in 1972, are on the brink of joining the elites of the African game to contest the last five places. They have 10 points, four clear of second-placed Burkina Faso.
On Sunday, Congo are at home to the Stallions of Burkina. A win would seal their qualification to contest for the final five places. What this means is that they may not need the last match against Niger in Niamey to qualify.
African Champions, Nigeria are almost through after nearly falling by the way side. The 1-0 victory recorded in Nairobi against Kenya and Malawi failing to beat Kenya at home, means that Nigeria on nine points would go through even if they manage a draw against Malawi at home in September.
Egypt are the only nation in Africa with the maximum 12 points from four matches. Their nearest rivals are Guinea with seven points. On Saturday, Egypt venture out to Mozambique knowing that even a point is enough to seal their qualification from Group G.
Both Algeria, nine points and Mali on seven points, have mathematical chances of qualifying from Group H, Libya and Cameroon on six points each, are the main candidates in Group I, though Congo DR and Togo, five and four points respectively, would not give up until the last kick.
In Group J, all four teams, Senegal, Uganda, Angola and Liberia, have mathematical chances of playing in the last 10. They are on six, five, four and four points in that order.
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