Soccer News of Saturday, 10 March 2001

Source: Vanguard Daily (Lagos)

Ghana Still in the Race - Erico Warns

If you think that the World-Cup has eluded the Black Stars of Ghana yet this time, you could well tarry a while until African World Cup qualifiers will have gone their full course.

Coach Joe Erico, in Lagos stated in clear terms that Ghana still has a chance as much as Liberia and Nigeria in the group.

"I have not come to terms with the reality yet that this World Cup is over for Ghana, as people here or even Ghanaians themselves think. The Black Stars still have a chance, as much as Nigeria and Liberia, now the group leaders. Just because Ghana lost a game at home to Liberia is not enough to come to such conclusion.

"Come to think about the standings. How many games are yet unplayed for each team? It's just about half way for all the teams, so its still open for any of the teams to play well and pick up more points to win the group ticket."

He said the Black Stars are a team that can reform today and begin to do wonders. "They need this World Cup ticket more than Nigeria and Liberia. So I expect them to play the rest of the games with greater vigour and determination."

I believe that the game is still open. Any of the sides can still play well and win the ticket. Liberia may not have been tested fully using the one game victory over Ghana could beat them at their home. Sudan can equally do the same. So let's keep our fingers crossed. It's survival of the fittest."

Erico said a team like Nigeria must watch this World Cup campaign because it's never going to be walk-over against any of the teams.