Sudan’s National team captain, Farouk Garba said in Port Harcourt on Saturday that their clash with Ghana’s Black Stars in Khartoum in three week’s time can only go one way : a win for Sudan.

"We made a few mistakes in the match against Nigeria, but it is normal in football. Nigeria is a strong team, with so many top-class professionals and though we marked them well in the first half, they were just too much in the last 45 minutes .

"That we lost today does not mean Sudan can no longer qualify for the World Cup. We have a focused team .

We have lost only one match and we are going to deal with Ghana when we meet them in February .

"We have friendly matches lined up against Malta and Qatar national teams before the game against Ghana. It will be tough for the Ghanaians because we will go all out", explained Garba .

Ghana’s Black Stars, whip lashed 3-1 by Liberia in Accra last Sunday, must win against the Sudanese on February 23 in Khartoum to remain in contention for the only ticket from group B to Korea/ Japan World Cup 2002.

Defeat by Sudan will almost certainly close the door on the Black Stars , on the same weekend that Liberia’s Lone Stars are certain to go top of the table with a cheap home game against dispirited Sierra Leone.

Sudan beat Ghana 1-0 in the controversial final match of the 1970 African Nations Cup competition hosted by the Sudanese.