Black Stars Fine Tune for Green Eagles

The Black Stars of Ghana are to star camping at the Winneba Sports College today in preparation for their tough encounter against the Green Eagles of Nigeria.

Ghana is effectively out of contention for the single slot for Korea/Japan 2002, but has the singular honour to determine who qualifies from group B. Liberia currently occupies the table with 15 points after playing eight matches, while Nigeria lies second with 13 points from seven matches. Ghana lies third with 11 points. The scores leave the two countries in contention for the one slot. A win against Nigeria would give her 14, which will not be enough to qualify. In the event that Ghana wins, Liberia will qualify ahead of Nigeria

So Nigeria need to beat Ghana on July 29 to qualify. In the past, matches involving the two, even in Nigeria have favoured Ghana.

On paper, the Nigerians start as favourites, considering the cream of foreign players in their camp. In the first leg, Ghana held Nigeria to a goalless drawn game here using players of Accra Hearts of Oak.It is against this background the Green Eagles would try to exorcise the ghost and defeat the Black Stars to salvage what is left of the soccer rivalry between the two sister countries.

Stars' coach Fred Osam Doudu, has kept the home based team that beat Sudan 1-0 in Accra for the sake of cohesion. He has also invited Mohammed Gargo of Udenese, Charles Amoah of Srum Graz, Stephen Appiah of Parma and Emmanuel Duah of Union Leira of Portugal to strengthen the team. Ghana will be playing for pride in this particular game and will take nothing to chance.

The local players in camp are Goalkeepers: Osei Boateng (Kotoko), James Nanor (Hearts)

Defenders: Isaac Owusu, Godfred Yeboah (Kotoko), Yaw Owusu, Kofi Amoako, Princeton Owusu Ansah, Kenneth Ababio (Goldfields) Mohammed Hamza (R.T.U) George Essilfie (Olympics Midfielders: Godwin Ablordey (Kotoko) Charles Taylor (Hearts) Musah Amino, Amo Stephen (Goldfields).

Strikers: Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour (Hearts) Isaac Boakye, Nana Arhin Duah (Goldfields) Issah Mohammed (Hassaacas) Charles Amoah (Sturm Graz-Austra)