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27.01.2015 Cup of Nations

AFCON 2015: Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan wary of South Africa threat in today's clash

By ghanasoccernet.com
AFCON 2015: Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan wary of South Africa threat in today's clash
27.01.2015 LISTEN

South Africa will be desperate for victory in Mongomo when it faces Ghana in both teams' final group match at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

While Ghana could reach the quarter-finals with a draw, South Africa must win and hope Algeria loses to Senegal in the other Group C encounter.

South Africa lost to Algeria in its opening game of the Cup of Nations and drew with Group C leader Senegal but, having seen Ephraim Mashaba's team qualify for the tournament by eliminating Nigeria and not losing away from home; Gyan is convinced Ghana will be tested.

“We're playing against a top side, very tricky team, skilful, tough side,” Ghana's captain said.

“For me, I think we haven't seen the [real] South Africa during the qualifiers yet, but anything can happen in football.”

Ghana coach Avram Grant said South Africa's attacking brand of football has not been rewarded yet in Equatorial Guinea and agreed with Gyan that his team will have to be at its best to reach the Cup of Nations's last eight.

“South Africa have impressed me a lot. They've played very good football,” Grant said.

“I saw them also in the qualification games, when they beat Nigeria, how they played even away against Nigeria. I think they play very impressive football until now, even if they didn't pick [up] the result.”

Grant also hailed his team's commitment after its last-gasp 1-0 win over Algeria.

Gyan scored the winning goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage-time against Algeria, bursting onto Wakaso Mubarak's long pass to strike from a tight angle after overcoming a bout of malaria to play the full game.

“Nobody has enough talent to live on the talent alone,” Grant said.

“I think talent is very, very important, it is the base for everything, but on the talent you need to build other things.

“So I think I was very, very happy from the attitude of the players and the spirit that they showed. I told you my opinion, the [Gyan] goal was in the legs, but the goal was more in the heart than with the legs. Only with heart you can do like this.”

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