Final test awaits CHAN title contenders

Ghana and Libya face each other in their first continental final since 1982 as either side battle for a first Africa Nations Championship success.

Thirty-two years ago, the Black Stars edged the Mediterranean Knights 7-6 on penalties to lift their fourth Nations Cup trophy after drawing 1-1 in regulation time.

On Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium, the home-based teams of this two nations will cross swords for the title of the tournament exclusive to players based in their home countries.

It will certainly be a difficult game as Ghana make a second appearance in the finals of the tournament while the Mediterranean Knights make their debut.

The two sides will be meeting for the second time in this year's tournament after drawing 1-1 during their group stage clash and will look to be decisive this time round.

"We still intend to do well against Libya, a good side which we know something about," Ghana coach, Maxwell Konadu said after his side defeated Nigeria in the last-four.

Either side have a stiff test ahead of them as they have to deal with the absence of key members of their squads.

Konadu will have to find a replacement for the suspended defender, Kwabena Adusei.

For Libya, Javier Clemente needs new faces to fill in for defender Osama Ghit and striker Abdelrahman Fetori who both sit out the final due to suspension.

The years have rolled by and both nations meet again in another continental final which will be closely contested for just like the events of 32 years ago in Tripoli.

As Ghana chase a first trophy success, Libya will be eager to get one past them [Ghana], who were losing finalist in the first edition of this tournament in 2009.