Ghana Not Qualified Yet, But ....

... Only a Miracle Can keep us out
A large chunk of the world media has already indicated Ghana has already qualified for the World Cup, but mathematically Ghana is not there yet. However, only a miracle of God - E.g. Kwame Nkrumah resurrects or the sun begins to revolve around the earth - can stop Ghana from making her first world cup appearance in Germany in June 2006.

The regulations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup clearly indicate the criteria for participation at the finals. Ghana sit three points ahead of Congo DR going into the final match day on 8 October. However, a win for Congo allied with a Ghanaian defeat could still see the Congolese seal top spot in the group.

In the event that two teams in a group are tied on points, the nations' record against each other is the first criterion used to separate them. Ghana and Congo DR drew 0-0 in Kumasi and remained inseparable after a 1-1 stalemate in Kinshasa. As a result, both the points garnered and the goal difference in the games between the two sides are equal. The regulations stipulate that away goals do not count as double in the matches between the two sides.

The next step involves taking into account the goal difference of both teams in the group, and here the situation currently favours Ghana, whose 13-4 tally is superior to Congo DR's 12-8. However, should Ghana lose their final game in Cape Verde 3-0, for example, and Congo DR win 2-0 in South Africa, Congo DR would qualify. The sides would be level on goal difference with +6, but Congo DR would have scored more goals with a tally of 14.