Barreto's first game

Portuguese Mariano Barreto will make his long awaited debut as Ghana coach against Algeria in an Olympic qualifier on Sunday.

The Portuguese has been handed a two year contract to manage Ghana at both Olympic and senior level but only after several days of controversy over his credentials and suitability for the Ghana job.

The Ghana Football finalised the deal with the 46-year old despite reports that he had made claims in his CV that did not stand up to close scrutiny.

Barreto said on his job application that he was an assistant to current Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld during his time with Borussia Dortmund, when the German club won the 1997 European Champions league.

Yet when a local newspaper questioned that claim, Barreto told journalists that he had actually been employed by Dortmund to help the club's Portuguese midfielder Paolo Sousa recover from an injury.

Sunday's game in Kumasi against Algeria would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Barreto's coaching career.

He has been a coach for twenty years, but so far always as an assistant.

Barreto has kept a distance from the Ghanaian media who he accuses of maligning him while he was in negotiations with the Ghana Football Association.

But Barreto is in no doubt that he can guide Ghana to secure the qualifying ticket in group D ahead of group leaders Algeria, pre-competition favourites South Africa and Zambia.
"I watched Ghana play Algeria in the first leg," he said.
"They were good players but lacked discipline.

"I hope I can bring that to bear for the game on Sunday."

Group D: In Chingola: Zambia 2 South Africa 1

Playing on Sunday: In Kumasi: Ghana v Algeria

 Standings    P W D L F A Pts  
 1. Zambia    4 2 1 1 3 2 7 
 2. Algeria   3 2 0 1 3 4 6 
 3. Ghana     3 1 1 1 1 1 4 
 4. S. Africa 4 1 0 3 5 5 3 

Note: The group winners qualify for the Olympic Games soccer tournament in Athens in August.