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Soccer News of Thursday, 6 October 2011

Source: mtnfootball.com

Asamoah Gyan fires Sudan warning

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has warned Sudan that the Black Stars will be gunning for victory in Omdurman when the two sides clash in the decisive 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.

The two sides share top spot in Group I on 13 points each ahead of the final match in the group.

Ghana, who ended their preparation in Kenya on Thursday, need just a draw to qualify while Sudan will pick the group’s automatic ticket if they win their home game.

But the loser can still qualify as one of the best second-placed teams in the qualifiers.

Despite playing the game away from home, Ghana’s leading striker Gyan says their sole aim is to win in Omdurman to pick the group’s automatic ticket.

“Our sole focus is to go out there in Sudan and win the game and qualify without any complications and we are capable,” Gyan told MTNFootball.com on Thursday ahead of their departure for Sudan.

“Our training camp in Kenya has put us in a good shape to be able to achieve this aim of going in Sudan to win the game.

“We are not underrating the Sudanese but we are determined to go there and get the result that our country needs to qualify without any questions.

“All my colleagues have resolved to do the same and we are confident we can achieve this result,” the Al Ain attacker said.

Sudan have won all their home matches in the qualifiers so far but Gyan is confident the jinx can be broken in Omdurman despite the hot weather conditions.

“If Sudan have not been beaten at home in these qualifiers, there is always a first time and we want to be the first to win there in these qualifiers,” Gyan said.

“Both sides will be playing in the sun so we will have no excuses so the only thing we have to do is go out there and play.

“The reason why I am confident is that the Ghanaian players play with their heart and I think this is what will set up apart.”

Sudan managed to hold Ghana to a 0-0 draw in their previous clash and with all their players playing at home the Nile Crocodiles have been tipped by many as favourites.

But Gyan says despite the advantage of the long camping by the Sudanese the experience of the Black Stars players will count.

“The fact that they all play at home and they have been in camp for long is surely a plus for them but this Ghana squad has been together for a long time,” the attacker said.

“We have got players who play in the top leagues of the world and with their experiences they will make it count.

“Sudan should not delude themselves that we are coming there to be pedestrians. We are going there to fight.”

Sudan are seeking their first Africa Cup of Nations title since they hosted the inaugural event in 1957.

But first they must beat the Black Stars to automatically qualify for the tournament to be hosted in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.