Ghana vs Burkina Faso: It's Do or Die!

Burkina Faso just need a draw to make it to the round of eight while neighboring Ghana must fight for a win after a disappointing 3-1 encounter against giant Ivory Coast.

Kick-off: Tuesday, 19 January, 17:00 CET, Cidadela, Luanda.

Both teams are playing their last game in the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Angola. Burkina Faso need just a point to progress to the next stage but stuttering Ghana must win at all cost to keep their Nations Cup hopes alive.

The Stallions have a point after holding pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast in their opening game. That disappointing results pushed the Elephants to stamp the Black Stars of Ghana in a humiliating 3-1 fixture.

The four-time African champions entered the tournament with a limping leg already as most of their senior players are suffering various forms of injuries and fell on their World Cup U-20 winning youngsters to fill in the spaces. Their game against Ivory Coast could rightly be dubbed a game between today’s generation and the future generation.

The Black Stars, semi-finalists in 2008, will have to make do with the absence of Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien after he was ruled out for the rest of the tournament on Monday with a knee injury.

Midfielder Rahim Ayew is a major doubt after picking a knee injury in training on Monday, while defender John Mensah, John Paintsil and Stephen Appiah missed the trip to Angola because of injuries.

Coach Milovan Rajevac is set to field a team whose backbone will be formed by players who won the under-20 World Cup in Egypt last October.

The Milovan Rajevac men would need to put on the hearts of men as they lack the strength and experience to push deep into their opponents’ half. With the exception of some few such as Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah and Rahim Ayew the rest do not seem to be goal thirsty.

They need to keep an eagle eye on World Cup qualifying round top scorer Moumouni Dagano since he would want to make a name for himself with a weakened Ghana side that rely solely on danger man but injured Essien.

Coach Paulo Duarte charges are a disciplined side looking at their performance against the World Cup 2010 bound in the three-team Group B after Togo withdrew from the competition following a terror attack on their team bus to Angola. The Stallions were well composed and kept their eyes on their opponents to prevent any slip against the star-studded side.

Their defence is robust with a goalkeeper who knows when to step up to intimidate his goal hungry opponents. At least their opening game is enough to send their message across that they are not in Angola as spectators but to leave a footprint in the history books of the Nations Cup.

If Ghana win, they will finish second in Group B behind Ivory Coast, who have already qualified, and will play their quarter-final game in Luanda against hosts Angola on Sunday.

If they fail to take all three points, Burkina Faso, who held Ivory Coast 0-0 in their opener, will go through and will take either first or second place of the group depending on their goal difference.

The first-placed team in Group B will play their quarter-final in the northern enclave of Cabinda on Sunday against Algeria. TEAM NEWS

Ghana

Ghana captain Michael Essien suffered a knee injury during training at the African Nations Cup on Sunday and would not feature in Tuesday’s crucial Group B fixture against the Stallions. He has only played 45 minutes in this tournament.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Defenders: Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland), Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland), Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Mensah Jonathan (Granada, Spain), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana) and Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Sampdoria, Italy), Opoku Agyemang (Al Sadd, Qatar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France) and Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France)

Attackers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad FK, Norway), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia) and Osei Ransford (FC Twente, Holland)

Burkina Faso

There have been no injury report in camp.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Daouda Diakite (Mokawloo Al-Arab, Egypt), Germain Sanou (Saint-Étienne, France), Adama Sawadogo (ASFA-Y, Burkina)

Defenders: Ibrahim Gnanou (Alania Vladiskavkaz, Russia), Bakary Koné (Guingamp, France), Paul Koulibaly (Al Ittihiad Tripoli, Libya), Moussa Ouattara (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Madi Panandétiguir (Leiria, Portugal), Mamadou Tall (Leiria, Portugal)

Midfielders: Charles Kaboré (Marseille, France), Mahamoudou Keré (Charleroi, Belgium), Mohamed Koffi (Petrojet, Egypt), Aziz Nikiéma (Qingdao Jonoon, China), Jonathan Pitroipa (Hambourg, Germany), Florent Rouamba (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova), Sibiri Alain Traoré (Auxerre, France)

Forwards: Habib Bamogo (OGC Nice, France), Moumouni Dagano (Al Khor, Qatar), Youssouf Koné (CFR Cluj, Romania), Youssouf Ouattara (Leiria, Portugal), Narcisse Yaméogo (Migan, Azerbaijan), Patrick Zoundi (Fortuna Düsseldorf, Germany).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ghana

Kwadwo Asamoah, the Udinese midfielder is cunning with the ball and always looking out for loop holes at any angle to quench his goal thirst. He is skillful, has appreciable level of pace and dribbles to the admiration of the fans. He is the man to watch if Burkina Faso want to keep their Cup of Nations dream

Burkina Faso

Moumouni Dagano is yet to score a goal in this tournament although he was Africa’s top scorer in the World Cup round qualifying. The 28-year-old striker is a goal poacher and would be looking forward to keep the fans on their feet anytime he gets the ball.

PREDICTION

It is a game open to any of the two teams to progress to the next stage. However, Burkina Faso has an upper hand.