Gabon Can Be Dangerous

When the Black Stars troop onto the Omar Bongo Stadium field this afternoon, they will be having one mission on their mind, that is to maintain their unbeaten run in the 2010 joint FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations group qualifiers against the Azingo Nationale of Gabon.

Ghana is among 10 countries with unbeaten records entering the third series of qualifiers this weekend and has not hidden their intention of making it to the second round as they have managed to post wins over their opponents, making them sit on top of group 5.

Definitely, the Black Stars start as favourites and a win would put their qualification for the second round in little doubt, while defeat for Gabon will put them in a difficult position if not end their hopes of reaching South Africa and Angola 2010.

Unfortunately, the Gabonese who will come into this game with all guns blazing and hoping to record their first win in the qualifiers, will do so without their top marksman, Daniel Cousin of Scottish side Rangers who is battling fitness ahead of the game. But in his absence, Coach Alain Giresse will choose from the likes of Stephane N’Guema, Roguy Meye, Dieudonné Londo, and Shiva N’Zigou to step in.

For Giresse’s opposite number, Sellas Tetteh, he will be happy welcoming back from injury his mercurial midfielder Sulley Muntari whose presence will boost the scoring chances of his team.

Ahead of this game, Ghanaians are having a lot of headache with the defence of the Stars as they have given them little to smile about since the start of the qualifiers.

Fact is, the Stars defence since the start of the qualifiers has found the going tough and their fortitude finally came crumbling against Lesotho in the last minutes of their game.

Against a Gabonese side that is chasing the first win of the qualifiers, coach Tetteh knows he has a lot of work to do on the defence if his resolve to keep his 100 per cent record in the qualifiers intact after today’s game.

For the midfield and attack propelled by Michael Essien, Laryea Kingston, Prince Tagoe, and Junior Agogo, they look potent as they have combined effectively to score three goals each in their last two matches and are bracing themselves up for another good day against Gabon.

This will certainly not scare the Gabonese who in Thierry Mouyouma, Guy Roger Nzeng, Bruno Ecuele Manga and Roger Issakounia possess a potent steel -like defence that can thwart the efforts of the Ghanaian frontline.

With home advantage behind them, they will be seeking to win the day to keep alive any hopes of making it to the next round of qualifiers

A win for Ghana will put them in pole positioned to move to the next round of the African qualifiers.