Now is the defining moment - Rabiu

Ghana midfielder, Rabiu Mohammed says the Black Stars has set their sight on a positive results as the expense of South Africa, when both meet in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations tie in Mongomo on Tuesday.

Ghana face the Rainbow Nation in a must win duel at the Estadio de Mongomo in the final Group C duel that will determine the four times champions progress in the continent’s plum competition underway in Equatorial Guinea.

Mohammed told GNA Sports that “The beginning of the campaign was very difficult for us judging by the quality of Senegal and the circumstances under which we lost. It is always a bit tougher to take when you concede very late in a game like we did.

“We needed to respond, and it had to be quick against Algeria; the best team in Africa now. We improved very well and the results had to come to bring us this far. Thankfully, our hard work paid off.

“Now is the defining moment. Our time to seal progress is now. We cannot make compromises nor share points. We simply need to prove our hunger and thirst in this competition against South Africa.”

The midfielder, making his second successive appearance at the Nations Cup following his impressive exploits as a debutant at the 2013 competition in South Africa when the Black Stars returned home as the fourth best said “Our fate is firmly in our hands and we know that.

“The fight in us has been rekindled even stronger. We wanted to be here, not to make up the numbers but to prove we are a strong and ambitious side that wants to go all the way.

“We have great respect for South Africa because they proved throughout the qualifiers and out there against Senegal and Algeria that they are a decent side. We will approach this game with every deserved seriousness in search of great results.”

Mohammed, 24, was deployed to the middle in the first Group C match against the Taranga Lions of Senegal but was confined to the bench when the Black Stars defeated Algeria in the second match.