Black Stars coach "Sir" Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has indicated that even though he is disturbed by the likely vacuum to be created by the absence the three Hearts players now with the Under-20 team in Ethiopia, he is still optimistic of a good result on Sunday.

Speaking with GNA Sports on Tuesday, coach Attuquayefio said he did all he could to stop the three Hearts players from leaving or delaying their departure to after the African Cup qualifier against Congo DR but things did not turn up as he had hoped.

" All that I had was the assurance from Mr Yaw La Danso, leader of the delegation, that he would do every thing possible for the players to be released after their Thursday, March 22 match against Nigeria.

" Even though I need them in my set up, it would not be a wise move because coming from the high altitude in Ethiopia they would need some time to acclimatise. I have now decided to take them out from my plans and fall on those in camp at the moment".

Attuquayefio said his only headache now is with the defence because there seems to be no substitute to Steven Tetteh's defensive organisational ability on the local scene. He was hopeful that by Sunday the problem would be solved.

He said the match against Congo DR would not be an easy one because having lost the first leg in Kinshasa 2-1 the Stars would now be under pressure to avenge the defeat.

" I have invited two foreign based players, Emmanuel Duah and Steven Appiah because they fit into our game plan for the match and hope to invite more to feature in subsequent matches."

On his relationship with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Coach intimated that things have started falling into place and a car has been finally released for his use, adding that it is a sign of good things to come.