Stars aim to rescue World Cup campaign - Play Congo in double header
Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, has given an assurance that his side will defy all odds to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia despite trailing leaders Egypt by five points after two matches.
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Gyan, who is the only player left from the Stars set up that made history by qualifying Ghana to its first ever World Cup in 2006, was hopeful of making the global showpiece for the fourth time and believes that the turnaround to Ghana’s World Cup campaign begins with today’s double header clash with Congo at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Ghana are in third place behind Egypt and Uganda with just a point gained from two games and now faces must-win games against the Red Devils today and next wednesday in Brazzaville to rev up their campaign.
Ghana’s maiden World Cup qualification in 2006 took a similar difficult journey, but the Stephen Appiah-led team turned their campaign around with decisive victories away to South Africa and Cape Verde to make it to Germany.
This time again, Gyan hopes to draw inspiration from that impressive fightback to rescue the Russia 2018 campaign.
The Turkey-based striker told the media after the team’s first training session in Kumasi that he believes the team was capable of replicating their amazing feat that saw them qualify for Germany 2006 ahead of group favourites South Africa and DR Congo.
“We are hopeful of qualifying despite having a really slim chance, but a win against Congo in the double header can change things in the group.
“This is the first time something of this sort has happened and just like the way we qualified in 2006, I believe we can repeat it again,” Gyan said.
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Coach Kwasi Appiah named a 24-man team to spearhead Ghana’s quest for a fourth successive World Cup qualification and will have a tough task against a determined Congo side who are bottom of the group without a point and have no realistic chance of making the finals in Russia.
The Stars team will miss striker Raphael Dwamena, who was excused from the team after failing his medical at English Premiership outfit Brighton and Hove Albion, and Isaac Sackey who sustained an injury while playing for his Turkish side Alanyaspor last Saturday.
Coach Appiah has handed a late invitation to in-form striker Richmond Boakye-Yiadom and midfielder Afriyie Acquah to replace the pair in a youthful side that are determined to make next year’s finals.
The Stars statistically possess an advantage over the Red Devils having defeated them eight times with three losses and four draws in their 15 meetings in all competitions.
But the Red Devils have an experienced French coach, Claude Leroy, who handled Ghana between 2006 and 2008 and could rely on his insights into Ghana football to frustrate the Stars on home soil.