Malabo, Feb. 10, GNA - Coach Goran Stevanovic could be forced to make changes to his team that will fight for bronze in their third place game against Mali billed for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.

The Serb will be forced to look for replacement for John Boye and Derek Boateng who are banned for the game the Stars will be hoping to win to restore some pride to their bruised pedigree.

Boye has been impeccable in central defence in five outings, partnering both captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah at different times, but his ban means, Stevanovic will have to look deep to replace him.

Stevanovic's work has been made difficult with the injury to the captain. Mensah would have partnered Vorsah but the latter is still in a race against time following a knock he picked in the semi final lost to Zambia.

If unable to pass fit, the Serb will have to give Jonathan Mensah a return to the role he executed perfectly in the game with Botswana and Mali.

In midfield, with the absence of Emmanuel Agyeman Badu in the game against Zambia, Stevanovic called on Boateng who picked a red card that will see him miss Saturday's meeting.

With Agyeman Badu still not recovered from a knee strain, the coach may have to dig deep and perhaps hand Mohammed Abu his first role at the biannual fiesta that closes on Sunday.

If given the chance, Abu will pair with Anthony Annan in midfield.

With only bronze at stake, Stevanovic who has confined his former regular, Daniel Opare to the middle, the coach may want to give the likes of the right back and the bench warmers an opportunity against Mali.

Ghana, tagged pre-tournament favourites alongside the Ivorian Elephants lost 0-1 to Zambia in the semi finals and now have to contend with a bronze to appease the down-hearted Ghanaian sporting public.

By Veronica Commey, (GNA Special Correspondent in Equatorial Guinea, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)