2015 AFCON: Legend Ibrahim Sunday wants Ghana to avoid Guinea ahead of today's tie-breaking draw

By Patrick Akoto
Legendary Ibrahim Sunday wants Ghana to avoid Guinea ahead of Thursday's drawing of the lots, claiming the Black Stars will hold the psychological edge over Mali in the quarter-finals.

A draw this afternoon will decide which side reaches the quarter-finals after they finished joint second with identical records in Group D.

The drawing of the lots to decide which team bows out has been hugely criticized globally as it regarded as an unfair means to decide the fate of teams.

The Black Stars managed an aggregate 4-2 win over Guinea during the qualifying campaign with Mali beaten the West Africans twice to clinch bronze in the last two editions of the tournament.

Ibrahim Sunday, a former Ghana and Kotoko, great hopes the Black Stars can avoid the Syli Nationale in Thursdays tie-breaking procedure.

“I want us to avoid Guinea as I will prefer us to play Mali in the quarter-finals,” he told Asempa FM

“Guinea will be more motivated to beat us after we beat them in the qualifying campaign.

“On the other hand, our boys will be extra motivated to beat Mali after they beat us twice to pick bronze in the last two editions of the tournament.

“Football doesn't follow logic, but I believe we'll be better placed to beat Mali than Guinea.

“In my opinion, Guinea will pose a threat to us than Mali.”

Lots have been drawn before at the height of global football and Thursday's exercise will not be new.

In a 1954 World Cup qualifying match in Rome, Turkey and Spain were tied after 90 minutes. At that point, a 14-year-old boy, the son of a stadium employee, was summoned to draw lots from a trophy, sending Turkey to compete at the tournament in Switzerland while Spain were sent home. Some reports suggest balls were drawn, others say it was a slip of paper

In the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria profited at the expense of Ivory Coast after the drawing of lots

At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the Netherlands and Ireland were tied for second place in their group. Straight after the match, Sepp Blatter, then second-in-command at Fifa, conducted a drawing of lots ceremony live on TV in Rome.

Both teams were guaranteed qualification for round two but an attendant drew a ball from two bowls to determine their ranking, and thus their second-round opponent