Audio By Carbonatix
Match: Ghana vs. Malawi
Date: 8 September, 2012
Competition: 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Time: 15:30 GMT (3:30PM local time)
Making it to the 29th edition of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations is just four months away. But the fate of the participating sides with the exception of the hosts is yet to be decided.
Ghana is among the 30 nations battling in the final round of qualifiers for a place in next year's finals in South Africa.
The Black Stars have to decide their place through a home-and-away round of knockout qualifiers left to determine the 15 teams that will join hosts South Africa in the finals.
And with a first-leg home fixture against Malawi coming up on Saturday at 15:30GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Stars will be looking to having a go again at the tournament after reaching the semi-final stage in the last three finals.
It is such a challenging qualifier which has to be determined over two legs as Ghana target a good first leg result.
"When the competition reaches a stage like this, every side is prepared for it. The tie is decided over two matches. And over two games, it doesn't matter the size of a country, it's about the preparation, determination and hardwork of your side that will get you through," Ghana coach, Kwesi Appiah told www.ghanafa.org ahead of the game on Saturday.
Appiah will be welcoming back Asamoah Gyan from international break, and the Al-Ain striker is expected to lead the line up-front.
Gyan, who ended his six-month break from international football two months ago is returning for his first match on home soil in a year and has welcomed the pressure that will greet his return to the national team.
“I appreciate that (pressure),” Gyan said. “It’s a teamwork, I work for the team, I make sure I do my job.”
“I do appreciate what people are saying. It doesn’t put pressure on me. Talking about football, we got ups and downs.
“If you can go through all this things then you are ready to play at anytime, in front of the crowds and everybody.”
But Kinnah Phiri is confident that his Flames will be up for the battle too.
The return leg will be played on the weekend of October 12-14 and the 15 winners compete in the finals in South Africa next January along with the host nation.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Four bodies found after avalanche hits Himalayan climbing group
4 minutes -
Adipa residents give government seven days to halt Agbogbloshie waste transfer
14 minutes -
Desks rotting in abandoned Kintampo South E-Block: A decade of neglect and a waste of state resources
16 minutes -
West Africa cannot simply import security models without accounting for local realities – WAMS
17 minutes -
Bono East Minister directs MCE to stop hotel project near Konkrompe SHS
39 minutes -
AGN Chair urges action-driven tracking and reporting on inclusive climate adaptation in Ghana’s agriculture
42 minutes -
Man City rule breaches not my concern – Mancini
42 minutes -
NSA releases PIN Codes for 2026/2027 national service private candidates and foreign-trained graduates
45 minutes -
GMet forecasts thunderstorms, rain across parts of Ghana this evening
47 minutes -
APRA wins Africa PR Legacy Award
50 minutes -
UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing to visit Ghana
53 minutes -
Telecel Ghana concludes SME Month 2026 with Business Runway in Takoradi
1 hour -
Ghana must embrace AI to transform tourism — GHATOF
1 hour -
National Investment Quiz: Corpus Christi, Wesley Girls, advance to semi-finals
2 hours -
Is Ghana losing the fight to protect children online?
2 hours