Black Stars ready for Libya game

Players of the senior national team, the Black Stars are upbeat about the crucial penultimate World Cup qualifying game against Libya on Friday.

With all the 21 invited players in camp, the Stars are optimistic of annihilating the Libyans in Tripoli in the joint 2010 Africa and World Cup qualifying series.

The Libyans have been unstoppable at their home base, beating Gabon and Lesotho by 1-0 and 3-0 respectively but the Black Stars are confident of scaling the hurdle.

Michael Oti Adjei, a renowned sports journalist who spoke from Tripoli yesterday said the confidence level of the players have been bolstered by the presence of Skipper Stephen Appiah who has been on a long lay-off since November last year.

Appiah's presence has brought a lot of smiles in the camp, with the players hoping to finish off the Libyans.

The inspirational Ghanaian captain was included in the side after recovering from an injury that kept him out of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Both sides are pegged on nine points and need a point each to go through to the next stage of the league phase depending on the outcome of the other group matches.

Ghana seems to have a potent side that includes Michael Essien of Chelsea, Sulley Muntari of Inter Milan and Laryea Kingston, but the outcome of the Gabon-Ghana game where the Stars lost 0-2 is still fresh in the players' minds.

Ghana leads Libya on goal difference at the head of Group 5 in the Africa Zone qualifying series, with both having nine points from four matches.