By Richard Avornyotse - GNA Sports

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Black Stars of Ghana will go into their second match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium on Thursday with one aim; to beat Namibia and qualify for the next round of the competition. After going past Guinea in the opening match via a 2-1 count, the Ghanaians appear, on paper, a better side that should make mincemeat of the Southern African visitors, who are making only their second appearance in the championship.

While a simple win will guarantee a safe berth to the next round for the Black Stars, they have to contend with a rampaging Moroccan side, which annihilated Namibia 5-1 in their first match for top place in Group A.

This is what makes the task of the Black Stars more tedious since the group winner will remain in Accra for the next round of the competition, while the runner up treks to Sekondi to face the winner of Group B.

In order to keep faith with their noisy fans, whose chants gave them the impetus to fight to the finish against Guinea, the Stars must shine and dazzle the eyes of the Namibians into blindness and register a cricket score to challenge the leadership of the Moroccans. On a good day the Black Stars have the capacity and the tenacity of purpose to achieve such lofty goals.

And with the kind of unprecedented support they enjoyed from Ghanaian fans on the opening day, they will brace up for a vintage performance that will condemn the Namibians to the accolade of "the whipping boys" of "Group C".

Though Asamoah Gyan is unlikely to feature due to injury, the attack of the Black Stars could be dutifully potent if Quincy Owusu Abeyie, Manuel Junior Agogo and teenage prodigy, Andre Dede Ayew found their rhythm and express themselves with some adventurism. The middle is where the homers have their star performers and as usual, Michael Essien; Laryea Kingston; Sulley Ali Muntari and Haminu Draman would seal the routes of the Namibian attack and thread passes to the front men to make sacks for the hay. Namibia will try to fight back with skipper Elias Pienaar, Brain Brendel and Jamunovamdu Ngatjizeko sweating it out to unsettle the Black Stars.

Goalkeeper Efram Tjihongemust must be at his best to stop the Ghanaians from hitting two digits.

No matter the trend of proceedings the odds favour the Ghanaians to cruise into the second round.

In the other match of the group, Guinea will try to remain in contention for qualification as they encounter Morocco. Having lost by the odd goal to Ghana on the opening day, skipper Pascal Feindounou and his colleagues will go gritty to overcome the Atlas Lions.

They will be very much aware of the potency of the Moroccans whose striker Soufiane Alloudi registered the first hat trick of the championship. A win for Morocco will ensure they move into the next round. A tough match is anticipated.