Match Preview: Ghana vs. Lesotho

Competition: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Venue: Baba Yara Stadium
Time: 17:00 GMT (5:00PM local time)
Starting line-up: Adam Kwarasey -- Samuel Inkoom, John Boye, Jerry Akaminko, Harrison Afful --- Derek Boateng, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah --- Jordan Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah.

Ghana start off the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying at home with coach Kwesi Appiah demanding his side to be at their clinical best against Lesotho.

Appiah's first match as head coach is this Friday with Ghana opening up at the Baba Yara Stadium as their bid to reach their third straight finals in Brazil begins.

As one of the seeded nations, Ghana were given a bye through the first qualifying round but as the real work starts now Appiah wants to see his players make a bright start to the group.

The opening Group D contest against Lesotho which kicks off at 17:00 GMT (5:00PM local time) is the first of two games in the second round qualifying before the campaign takes a long break only to return next year.

Only one team from the four nation group will progress to the third round.

Appiah, who wore the Ghana shirt and had been an assistant since 2008 before assuming the reigns insist his young and spirited side must match their previous achievement and instil even more fear in the group.

“We are going into the match with all the seriousness it deserves and I have cautioned my players to stay focused,” Appiah said ahead of Friday's game with Basothos.

Ghana find themselves in a tough group which includes African champions, Zambia and Sudan.

Despite a big clash, against Zambia awaiting the Black Stars next, Sulley Muntari believes the first game is the most crucial.

"We played them during the African Cup, it was a very difficult game. We know exactly how they play, so it's going to be the same. It's going to be very difficult," Muntari said.

"They are going to stay back and hold it but all we want is to play good football."