World Cup Qualifying Preview: Ghana - Mali

African powerhouse nation Ghana host the talented Malians in the final World Cup qualifier this weekend, but the Black Stars have already booked their ticket to South Africa.

Kick-off: Sunday, November 15 2009, 17:00 (CET), Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Group D consists of Ghana, Mali, Benin and Sudan. Ghana tops the group with a points tally of 12 from five encounters, meaning that Ghana became the first African country after hosts South Africa to qualify for the 2010 event. The Black Stars did so with a win over Sudan in the fourth round of matches, while Benin and Mali registered a draw. In their last round the Ghanaians fell to Benin by a goal to nil, but they were visibly not motivated in the encounter and the knowledge of their qualification worked against them as they slipped up and gave away their consistent 100 percent record.

This match against Mali will be more meaningful, not in any statistical or points related way, but as an important warm up for the continental tournament taking place in Angola in January, as well as a confidence builder if they are able to end the qualification on a high in front of their fans in Kumasi.

Rajevac’s men have lost their last two games, including a friendly international against Japan and the Serbian is keen for that sequence to end. “In a way it’s natural that the players will relax after qualifying for the World Cup but psychologically it is important that we win on Sunday against Mali,” he told KickOffGhana.com.

“To understand how well we have done you have to look at the circumstances of this game. When the draw was made, this was supposed to be a decider but we have ensured that is not the case. Now we need to go out and win it and give ourselves the confidence you get from victories.”

Mali Warming Up Ahead Of African Nations Cup

Mali have already wrapped up qualification for the African Cup of Nations with the second spot in group D, and this match will likely be used to test a few new faces and see how they do ahead of the continental games in two months time.

Mali boast the talents of a number of European based stars, plying their trade in some of the best leagues in the world including Fredi Kanoute in Spain and Momo Sissoko in Italy, although neither of these two players is making the trip to Ghana. It was thought that if they played disciplined football and did not drop points carelessly, they would fight it out with Ghana for the top spot in this group, but the Black Stars proved too powerful and their 100 percent record in the first four games handed them a spot in South Africa.

This qualifying campaign was probably the last chance for the golden generation of Malian players to prove its worth on the international stage, and they will be keen to do well at the African Cup of Nations as a consolation after missing out on Africa’s first World Cup.

TEAM NEWS

Ghana

Ghana wants to win this final encounter, and despite six call-ups to members of the Under-20 team, the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan have all been retained in the squad.

Former Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko defender Aziz Ansah has been handed a late call-up to the Black Stars after helping the Nigerian side Heartland FC reach the finals of the African Champions League, and he will be joined by Opoku Agyemang.

Squad: Kingson, Adjei, Paintsil, Inkoom, Quartey, Addo, Vorsah, Addy, Addo, Appiah, Essien, Annan, Ayew, Badu, Muntari, Gyan, Amoah, Adiyiah, Ayew, Asamoah.

Mali

Frederic Kanoute, Mohamed Sissoko and Mahamadou Diarra, regarded as Mali's biggest stars have been rested to recover fully from different injuries. But Nice forward Mamadou Bagayoko and Deportivo Xerez's Sidi Yaya Keita have been line up to replace the trio.

Seydou will also miss Mali's World Cup qualifier against Ghana this weekend due to an injury picked up during Barcelona's Spanish League win over Real Mallorca.

Squad: Sidibe, Diakite, Sogoba, Tamboura, Coulibaly, Soumare, Berthe, Diakite, Mariko, Maiga, Traore, Sow, Keita,Traore, Sissoko, Bagayoko, Samassa, Maiga, Yatabare, N'Diaye, Diallo, Coulibaly.

PREDICTION

Neither of these teams have anything to lose in the encounter, but both have pride at stake and perhaps the home fans will push Ghana on to victory. Mali are missing a number of their important players, and Ghana is virtually at full strength, so a win by a couple of goals may be on the cards for the Black Stars.

Ghana 2-0 Mali