Stars ready to demolish Cranes
Ghana's Black Stars and Uganda kick off the group qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with an encounter that could in the long run decide who gets to go to Russia.
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After three successive World Cup appearances under three different coaches, Avram Grant takes his turn in charge of the Stars, aware of the implications of what making or not making it to Russia 2018 means to both his career and the Stars.
Not much has changed in the squad as Grant has kept faith with his core players since taking charge just before 2015, and the Israeli trainer believes he has assembled the men experienced and determined enough to get the job done.
While Grant may be confident about his team — an experienced defence, solid and energetic midfield, his attacking line has not been as sharp and convincing enough, and for a World Cup qualifying campaign, he would have to get them to be sharper in order to get the needed goals right from the start.
The return of captain Asamoah Gyan, the fine form of Jordan Ayew for Aston Villa this season, as well as Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu, hopefully, will get the job done and help the Stars begin this tricky campaign on a steady and winning note.
Though the Black Stars boast an enviable head-to-head record against the Uganda Cranes, this match is one that has more than just the three points at stake, as the Ugandans are keen on ending the Stars' hold on them, while the Stars also seek to maintain their dominance.
In 2004 when they clashed in a similar qualifier, the first game ended in a 1-1 draw in Kampala before the Stars sealed victory with a 2-0 win in Kumasi.
Both teams have gone through many changes and with Uganda qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 38 long years, the Cranes feel the need to cap that achievement with a World Cup qualification.
Since taking charge, Serbian Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic has helped the Cranes to rediscover themselves, and now brimming with confidence that they can also try their chance at a World Cup ticket, receiving a huge boost and motivation from their nation ahead of this game.
However, relying on predominantly local stars who have not been active in the past month due to their league being on recess, Sredojevic's headache has been getting his team to peak for such a match.
En route to Ghana, the Cranes made a stop in neighbouring Togo, where they lost 0-1 to the Hawks in a trial match. But Sredojevic insists the match was a good exercise for his otherwise 'inactive' stars as it has afforded them the chance to know exactly what to do against the Stars.
"At this moment, we are confident of causing trouble for the Stars. We have had a good exercise in Togo and now know just what to do when we play on Friday," the Serbian told journalists in Lome.
But with the Stars, themselves having declared their intention of a 'Russia 2018 Mission Possible', Sredojevic and his Cranes will need more than just self rediscovery and confidence to overcome the Stars who are keen to claim their first three home points, and desperate to win back the love of their teeming home fans, whose love for them seem to have waned.