World Cup Qualifying Preview: Ghana - Sudan

African powerhouse nation Ghana host Sudan in the fourth game of group D joint qualifying for both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 African Nations Cup.

Sep 4, 2009 1:13:30 PM

More On :  Ghana, Sudan, Ghana vs Sudan
Ghana National Team
Kick-off: Sunday, September 6 2009, 19:00 (CET), Accra, Ghana.

Ghana Close To World Cup Place

Group D consists of Ghana, Mali, Benin and Sudan. Ghana top the group with a maximum points tally of 9, while Mali have 4 and Benin find themselves third with three points. Sudan are currently bottom of the table, with only one point from three previous encounters. On September 6 Benin face Mali, while group leaders Ghana welcome bottom side Sudan.
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With regards to qualification to the World Cup next year, Ghana is close to being the first African country after hosts South Africa to qualify for the event. The Black Stars will do so with a win over Sudan, if Benin and Mali register a draw. In a tough encounter for Sudan, they will be eliminated from next year’s event qualification if they do not win against Ghana. As far as the African Nations Cup goes, Ghana have already qualified, and Mali could join them in Angola next year if they defeat Benin and Sudan do not take all three points against the Black Stars.

History And Angola 2010

These two teams met in the last round of matches, as Ghana braved the soaring temperatures in Sudan to humble the Desert Hawks 2-0 in their backyard and increase their chances of clinching the coveted World Cup spot. Mathew Amoah notched the first goal in the 5th minute, and in the second half, the Sudanese defence was again caught napping when Amoah sneaked to score his second goal in the 58th minute.

The victory was good news for the Ghanaians who were missing a number of key players from injury and suspension. Now the African giants boast nine points from three matches while Sudan has one from the same number of encounters. The result meant that the Desert Hawks had lost two consecutive matches and traveling to Ghana, their new aim has to be a result that may increase their chances of playing in the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

It was thought that Mali and Benin could make life difficult for Ghana, but the Black Stars have not been worried by any of the sides in their group, and Sudan will certainly find it tough away at the African giants. Sudan typically play well against better opposition, keeping the pressure on their opponents with a ‘nothing to lose’ type attitude, but with Ghana within reach of their major goal, it is unlikely that David can slay Goliath on this occasion.

TEAM NEWS

Ghana

Coach Milovan Rajevac is unsure about the availability of striker Prince Tagoe for the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Sudan with the player’s fitness in question for the crucial game. Ghana will also be without midfield prodigy Kwadwo Asamoah due to injury.

Squad: Kingson, Owu, Amamoo, Paintsil, Inkoom, Afful, Koto, Mensah, Addo, Vorsah, Appiah, Essien, Annan, Muntari, Kingston, Agyemang, Draman, Gyan, Amoah, Tagoe, Junior Agogo.

Sudan

Regulars like veteran striker Faisal Agab, midfielder Haitham Mostafa and defender Omer Bakheit are key to the Sudanese plans of success, and they will work hard to pull one over on Ghana.

Most recent squad: Bahaeldin Abdallah, Mahjoub El Moez, Mohamed Ali Khider, Ahmed Al Basha, Musa Al Tayeb, Amir Damar, Alaeldin Ahmed Gibril, Khalid Hassan, Yousef Alaeldin, Omer Bakheit, Badreldin El Doud, Saifeldin Ali Idris, Hassan Isaac Korongo, Rashard Justin Lado, Mugahid Mohamed, Haitham Mostafa, Mohamed Tahir, Abdelhamid Amari, Faisal Agab, Alaeldin Babiker, Haitham Tambal.

PREDICTION

Ghana will make the most of home advantage in this game, using the support from their fans to motivate themselves to a win over opposition that, on paper, is surely inferior to them. Sudan will fight in the game, but I feel that anything short of a good win for Ghana is an unlikely prediction. Home advantage will certainly be a tough obstacle for Sudan to overcome.

Ghana 3-0 Sudan

Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com
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