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Soccer News of Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Source: kickoff.com

Bright Addae to replace Jonathan Mensah for Semis

Bright Addae will step in for the suspended Jonathan Mensah in the heart of the Ghana defence while Abeiku Quansah will go straight back into the starting line-up as Ghana face Hungary in the semifinal of the 2009 Under-20 World Cup. The Black Satellites are confident they can match the achievement of the 1993 and 2001 group and reach the Final of the U-20 World Cup in Egypt on Tuesday.

After two failed attempts at winning the trophy in 1993 and 2001, the Satellites know the semifinal will fall way short of expectation in Ghana and insist they can do it.

Sellas Tetteh has labelled his team best outsiders for the title while captain Dede Ayew has promised the team will do all they can to clinch it.

Along the way during the tournament, they have shown signs of a side capable of beating anyone on their day but have also been exposed at the back many times.

That is why Jonathan Mensah's absence at the back has been a source of worry for Sellas Tetteh but the Hungarians will also be missing their star man Vladimir Koman.

Yet Krisztian Nemeth believes the Hungarians have the edge even in the absence of their star man.

"I expect a very hard game," he says of the semifinal match up. "We know they are quick and strong, but we might have the edge tactically. I'm sure it will be a great game and I think we can win it."

That the Ghana team will dispute. Samuel Inkoom who has been key in Ghana's strategy of building up attacks from the back reckons the Satellites just can't fail.

"We have come too far to let it slip now," he told KickOffGhana.com. "Down to the last man we really want to win this trophy and feel we can beat Hungary."

Inkoom will be one be one six Ghanaian players who could be suspended if booked but the right back insist that will not play on their minds.

"It is not part of the thinking because you can't spend your time worrying about these things. We just want to go in and give everything. We can take care of the other issues when the time comes."

Ghana Line-Up Daniel Agyei, Samuel Inkoom, David Addy, Bright Addae, Daniel Addo, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Rabiu Mohammed, Abeiku Quansah, Dede Ayew, Dominic Adiyah, Ransford Osei.