Fans optimistic Stars will maintain clean sheet

APA-Accra (Ghana) Ghanaian soccer fans have on Saturday expressed optimism that the Black Stars will maintain a clean sheet against their Sudanese counterparts, the Nile Crocodiles as they lock horns in their Group I match on Sunday in Kumasi, an inland city in Ghana.

Ghana beat Swaziland 3-0 in the group’s opening game and the fans are upbeat about the result and hoped that playing at home should give them edge over their Sudanese counterparts, who were beaten by Ghana home and away in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Since the core players of the Black Stars started training at El Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, fans have been trooping there to watch their training sessions and the euphoria heightened when they arrived in Kumasi, the venue for the match.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese team, which is parading a young side arrived on Thursday and headed for Kumasi Friday.

Sudanese officials, APA learns here, have commended Ghana for the warm reception accorded them and said they will do well to surprise Ghana in the game with their youthful side, which beat Congo 2-0 in their opening game.

But Black Stars players, who are playing at home for the first time, have vowed not to joke with the match and will go all out to clinch second victory for their teeming supporters.