World Cup Qualifying - Africa
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7 vs 0
Played
June 1, 2012 6:00 PM BST
Baba Yara Stadium — Kumasi
Referee:‬ B. Diatta‎
Attendance:‬ 38000‎
 
15′ Sulley Ali Muntari
 
24′ Dominic Adiyiah
 
45′ Jordan Ayew
 
49′ Dominic Adiyiah
 
86′ Christian Twasam Atsu
 
89′ Jordan Ayew
 
90+1′ Jerry Akaminko
 

Ghana - Lesotho Preview: The Black Stars take on the Crocodiles in Appiah's first real test

Ghana begin a journey to Brazil 2014 with a home game against the Crocodiles, that happens to be coach Kwesi Appiah's first major outing since taking charge in April

By Kent Mensah

More On :  Ghana, Lesotho, Ghana vs Lesotho
Sulley Muntari - Ghana (Getty Images)
Getty Images
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GHANA
Kwarasey,
Opare, Addy, Boye, Vorsah
Annan, Boateng, Badu, Acheampong
Asamoah, Muntari
LESOTHO

Kuenane,
Maile, Ntobo, Masualle, Lerotholi, Mokhahlane, Moletsane, Mothoana, Moleko,
Tale, Ramabele
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is revealing his first strategy and starting 11 since he took over as Black Stars coach in April. The 2014 World Cup qualifying game against Lesotho is his first major assignment and he cannot afford to disappoint.

He is the most advantaged of the two men on the touchline. Appiah is not only playing at home, but he has a complete squad with rich foreign league experience. His counterpart from the southern African nation began building a new senior national team with an Under-20 side last year.

The odds favour Ghana. Little is known of the Crocodiles, and the strategy of opting to stay out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to build a solid side will be tested against the Black Stars on Friday at the Kumasi Stadium.

There are no injury worries from both camps, and this game should be an interesting one, with the men from Lesotho with nothing to lose and the Ghanaians knowing that a good start is vital.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • This is the second time coach Kwesi Appiah is fully in charge of the Black Stars at the Kumasi Stadium.

  • Ghana have scored seven goals in their two warm-up games ahead of the Lesotho encounter.

  • The Black Stars have an entirely new technical staff with many new faces in the team.

  • Lesotho did not enter the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, focusing instead on its youth team.

  • The Crocodiles were in senior national team football exile for two years and that led to a total overhaul of the team ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup and 2014 World Cup qualifying games.

  • One of their few foreign-based players, Bokang Mothoane, helped US Monastir win promotion back to Ligue 1 in Tunisia in 2011.

  • Lesotho are currently ranked 163th on the Fifa rankings.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Ghana 3-0 Lesotho
    28.57 %
  • Ghana 2-0 Lesotho
    18.63 %
  • Ghana 3-1 Lesotho
    14.29 %
Head to Head
World Cup Qualifying - Africa ‎(WCQ)‎ Jun 1, 2012 Ghana 7 - Lesotho 0
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World Cup Qualifying - Africa ‎(WCQ)‎ Oct 11, 2008 Ghana 3 - Lesotho 0
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World Cup Qualifying - Africa ‎(WCQ)‎ Jun 8, 2008 Lesotho 2 - Ghana 3
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Last Five Matches
Ghana
Mar 24, 2013Ghana 4 - Sudan 0WCQ
Feb 9, 2013Mali 3 - Ghana 1ACN
Feb 6, 2013Burkina Faso 1 - Ghana 1ACN
Feb 2, 2013Ghana 2 - Cape Verde 0ACN
Jan 28, 2013Niger 0 - Ghana 3ACN
Lesotho
Mar 24, 2013Lesotho 1 - Zambia 1WCQ
Jun 10, 2012Lesotho 0 - Sudan 0WCQ
Jun 1, 2012Ghana 7 - Lesotho 0WCQ
Nov 15, 2011Burundi 2 - Lesotho 2WCQ
Nov 11, 2011Lesotho 1 - Burundi 0WCQ
Odds
Returns: Ghana £10.40 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £130.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Lesotho £340.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
16Adambathia KwaraseyGoalkeeper
23Harrison AffulDefender
12Jerry AkaminkoDefender
21John BoyeDefender
2Samuel InkoomDefender
9Derek BoatengMidfielder
-BaduMidfielder
20Kwadwo AsamoahMidfielder
11Sulley Ali MuntariMidfielder
20Dominic AdiyiahStriker
-Jordan Ayew
1Daniel AdjeiGoalkeeper
-Ernest Sowah
5Daniel AddoDefender
-Lee Addy
3Richard BoatengDefender
14Daniel OpareDefender
13Mohammed RabiuMidfielder
6Anthony AnnanMidfielder
-Richard Mpong
4Christian Twasam AtsuStriker
17Emmanuel ClotteyStriker
-Benjamin Acheampong
1Kholuoe PhasumaneGoalkeeper
5Moitheri NtoboDefender
18Nkau LerotholiDefender
3Thabiso MaileDefender
12Thabo MasuoalleDefender
6Thapelo MokhehleDefender
2Ralekoti MokhahlaneMidfielder
20Tumelo BerengMidfielder
11Tšoanelo KoetleMidfielder
9Dlomo MonaphathiStriker
17Thapelo TaleStriker
16Mohau KoenaneGoalkeeper
7Bushy Moletsane MoletsaneMidfielder
15Mosiuoa BosekaMidfielder
19Molibeli JanefekeMidfielder
13Mpho MatsinyaneMidfielder
22Mabuti PotloaneMidfielder
10Katleho MolekoStriker
8Mokoenanyane MoahloliStriker
Players to Watch
Sulley Ali Muntari
Sulley Ali Muntari
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 11
Games Goals YC RC
2 1 0 0
The stand-in captain of the Black Stars could have a great headache to grapple with because he is going to be the main target of Lesotho on the field judging from his fine form on loan with AC Milan last season, and could score on the night.
Bokang Mothoana
Bokang Mothoana
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 14
Games Goals YC RC
3 1 2 0
The US Monastir right-winger is counted among the key players of the Crocodiles. He has been on target for his side and at club level and played a key role in their 2-2 World Cup qualifying game against Burundi last year. He's the man to watch against Ghana.
Prediction
Ghana are going into this match as the strongest side and they have to capitalise on that to score goals and amass the points. They have home advantage and experienced players, with no excuse to lose or draw this game.
Editor's Prediction
Ghana 3
Lesotho 0
Results
Matchday 1
Times In BST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Trésor Mputu Trésor Mputu
Striker
TP Mazembe 		4 0
Mohammed Abu Trika Mohammed Abu Trika
Midfielder
Bani Yas 		3 2
Juvenal Juvenal
Midfielder
Sabadell 		3 1
Emilio Nsue López Emilio Nsue López
Midfielder
Mallorca 		3 1
Salomon Kalou Salomon Kalou
Striker
Lille 		3 0