Meteors Fired Up

THE NATIONAL Under 23 side, the Black Meteors have stepped up preparations towards their all-important encounter with the Amagluglug of South Africa at the El Wak Sports Stadium in Accra this Sunday.

The match is the return leg of the Africa Olympic Games Group A qualifier.

The Black Meteors, who are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure the only slot of the group, will welcome IK Start of Norway's Anthony Annan and Bernard Yao Kumordji of Greek-based Panonios, who were expected to join the rest of the squad last night.

Annan, who will be making a return into the team, after playing an integral role in the last five matches of the senior national team, the Black Stars, is expected to add more bite to the midfield.

The presence of Kumordji in the midfield could prompt the technical bench of the Meteors to adopt a 4-3-3 formation, in which case Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan and Asec's Nafiu Iddrisu will lead the attack, supported by Annan, Kumordji and skipper Michael Helegbe in midfield.

Most football pundits are anticipating a total victory for the Meteors, which will push them in pole position to snatch the sole ticket ahead of Nigeria, who are the current group leaders with four points. The Meteors have three points.

Morale in the Meteors camp is high, with the expected presence of all the seven foreign-based players on the field of play on the D-day.

The South Africans, who were expected in town from South Africa last night, will parade about six foreign-based players, including Masilo Modubi of Westerlo in Belgium and Tshepo Masilela of Maccabi Haifa in Israel.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah