Come Sunday at the Kumasi Sports Stadium, the Black Meteors of Ghana will carry the hope of the nation as far as participating in the next Olympic Games is concerned as they engage in a caggy encounter against the young Desert Warriors of Algeria with the aim of upstaging them.

Having consoled ourselves after the heart breaking lose of the Black Queens to the Super Falcons of Nigeria just last weekend, the nation will obviously be looking up to the Meteors to thoroughly restore our chances of answering the roll call in Athens later in the year. Besides, Ghanaians will be looking with curiosity as to how Coach Marriano Barreto will fare in his first assignment, which the outcome could automatically make or unmake the chances of the Meteors in the qualifiers.

The Meteors are expected to enter into the game with the aim of revenging their 0-1 loss to the Algerians and register a convincing win to stay on course for the quest to pick the single slot in the group which includes Zambia and South Africa.
With the arrival of the Israeli trio of John Painstil, Addoquaye Pappoe and Ishmael Addo as well as Denmark-based Razak Pinpong, coach Barreto will be hoping to have a good blend with some of the local players who will include the safest pair of hands of George Owu in post to shut his critics and prove a point that he has what it takes to lead the nation to victory even with his physical instructors' status.
The Meteors won their game against South Africa in Accra drew with Zambia in Lusaka and lost to the Algerians will have their pride and the nation's image to fight for the maximum points in front of the much friendlier Kumasi crowd come Sunday.
With the experience of the Black Queens still fresh in the memory of Ghanaians, it is glaring that Coach Barreto and his "boys' will need more that fanatical support and prayers to sail through the hurdle against their opponents.
Indeed, none need be told what a draw can do to the country's aspirations and with the battle lines already drawn, skipper Yusif Chipsah and his colleagues will have a good reason to heed to the clarion cry of "go for the goals Meteors" to keep their dream of competing in the world biggest sports fiesta alive.
Under the guidance of former coach Ralph Zumdick, reports indicated that but for poor officiating and the bad pitch, the Meteors could have at least pulled a draw in Algiers and it is supposedly against this background and among other advantages that Ghanaians remain optimistic about a convincing win come this Sunday.
With the likes of capable players such as Kojo Poku, Charles Taylor, Abubakar Yahuza, Eric Gawu and Bernard Don Bortey in the team's attack, coach Barreto's choice of midfield gems like Chipsah, Eddy Owusu Ansah, Frank Kornu and Stephen Oduro among others should give him the necessary arsenals to keep the fire on their opponents.
With most of the invited local players in shape partly because of their participation in the just ended Coca Cola Top Four, the likes of Daniel Coleman, Louis Agymang and Saliu Muntari along side hard working Pappoe and Painstil should produce a thick defence to hold the North Africans at bay.
Though the odds favour the Ghanaians, it will be suicidal to underrate the Algerians who lead the group with six points having licked the young Chipolopolo of Zambia by a lone goal but bowed 1-4 to South Africa and piped the Ghanaians 1-0 at home.
The Warriors who have proven to be tactically strong in the other games will certainly come into the game seeking for a draw to enhance their chances of qualification against the Meteors who's desire will be a "must win" situation, will certainly set the stage for an uncompromising encounter.
It is glaring that the team with good tactics could come up tops and that is why the Meteors will have every good reason to avoid complacency and play aggressively but to be cautious to ensure they achieve victory over their "soccer foes" on Sunday.
The stakes are so high, and Ghanaians can not afford another heart breaking result and it is against this backdrop that the Meteors will have no other choice than to die for the mother Ghana when they don the traditional colours of red-yellow-green jersey on Sunday.