Stars vow to redeem image in crunch game against Desert Foxes today

Ghana's Black Stars say it is redemption time, their skeptics say it is a day of reckoning.

Whatever one chooses to call it, one thing remains the same: the Stars' second Group C match against Algeria this afternoon is a must win for them if their bid to have a shot at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title is to remain on course.

The stars have their backs against the wall given that they lost their opening game and must now win to get back into contention, while Algeria sit on top of the group following their 3-1 thrashing of South Africa.

It is this realization that is making the Stars adopt 'the redemption time’ slogan, indicating their readiness to salvage their campaign.

In the build up to this crunch game is the issue of Coach Avram Grant’s system adopted in the first game and its suitability to the Stars.

Against Senegal, Grant tried out a 5-3-2 system, a bit foreign to Ghana's known 4-4-2.

Grant, however says that is not the issue as the players have each been given a role.

Watching the team train for 15 minutes Thursday gave no clue what Grant intends to do to pull this one through, as captain Asamoah Gyan continued with his light training while the rest of the team went through their usual warm up drills.

However, with the pressure on Grant to get a win result, he may be compelled to play a format that better suits the players.

He must parade a defence which not only protects the goalkeeper, but has what it takes to stop the Algerians who are faster on the flanks, just as he fields players daring enough to run at the Algerian defence who come to this game with a wealth of experience.

To give his team that needed confidence, Grant may stick to his starting 11 as he paraded against Senegal last Monday, but the availability of Gyan may alter the game plan.

"Planning for this game means we have considered our mistakes from the opening game. Besides, the availability of every player makes it a bit easier, not to say the match will be easy, but we know what is at stake and what we have to put in to get the needed result," Coach Grant told the Daily Graphic, though falling short of confirming his captain's starting status.

As former Stars striker, Augustine Ahinful, now scouting for Grant told the Daily Graphic,"we must show consistency by playing the full time and not part of the time. We must show we gave stamina to match the robust Algerians. Importantly, we must create the chances before we can think of scoring."