World cup qualifier : Make or break for Ghana in Sudan

Former African champions, Ghana could either revive their World Cup hopes or begin to forget about the competition altogether, depending on the result of their World Cup qualifying match against Sudan in Omdurman on Sunday.

Ghana are third in the group behind Nigeria and Liberia, who humiliated the Black Stars 3-1 in Accra. Ghana's only victory was the 5-0 rout of Sierra Leone at the same venue.

Having won four African titles Ghana are yet to make a trip to the World Cup finals.

One generation of great players after another has failed to achieve that goal and with the squad's current state of preparation before heading for Sudan, the wait could still be longer.

Most of the foreign-based players will not be available for the match so coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has turned to his local flock, including some Under-20 internationals.

With only one day to go, it is still unclear who among the foreign legion will show up.

Skipper, Charles Akunnor of German side, Wolfsburg has arrived and his Bundesliga counterpart, defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour of Bayern Munich is expected to join Portugal-based Emmanuel Duah, as the only three overseas-based players in the squad.

The other European-based stars have been ruled out due to club commitments and illness.

At home, the local-based contingent has been grilled by the press for their attitude in camp and Attuquayefio is a coach distracted by recent events.

He held a long meeting with the FA and sports authorities early in the week to discuss matters affecting his contract and the team.

Sudan are not the same side they used to be, as champions of Africa in 1970, beating Ghana 1-0 in the final with Attuquayefio, a member of the Black Stars side that finished as runner-up in Khartoum.

But after winning their last home match against Liberia, the Sudanese seem determined not to lose in their own backyard. That could be a hurdle for all the other sides in the group.

The East Africans are tied on three points with Ghana, but second from bottom.

Match officials:
Referee - Tessama Hailmalak (Ethiopia)
Assistant referee 1 - Hailemariam Behlu (Ethiopia)
Assistant referee 2 - Gabremariam Feseha (Ethiopia)
Match commissioner - Tesfaye Gebreyesus (Eritrea)