On Saturday, Black Stars coach Akwasi Appiah faces his toughest test yet in a final Nations Cup qualifier against the Flames of Malawi in Lilongwe. There is more to that game than just the points at stake. There is a job to consolidate, a point to prove and a thirsty football nation to satisfy. The only time in our recent past Ghana failed to make the roll call in Africa was in 2004. Since then, we have made the cut and we did it with foreign coaches. Since 2002, it is the first time a local coach is handling the Black Stars through qualification to a major tournament. Whilst many have hailed the appointment of the ex-Black Stars skipper, there are other critics who for many reasons- some legitimate, others purely sentimental- still believe it was a wrong choice made by the FA. For those critics, Appiah is still under probation and are waiting patiently to either rally in jollity with the crowd, with the Stars and Appiah if they qualify or heave a long venomous-I-told-you-so-sigh if the Stars fail. And even though the Stars have a two goal advantage going into this game, the possibility of being eliminated still remains palpably high given the performance put out by the Flames in Ghana. Three days after winning that game the Stars posted a 0-2 defeat to Liberia in an international friendly and which provided a reality check for a nation somberly swimming in complacency. Ignore allegations of bad officiating. It could be worse in Saturday's game. Back to the first leg against Malawi in Accra, the Stars won that game but were hugely exposed especially in the first half. And whilst I am in no position to question the tactical formation of the coach, I sincerely felt playing three ‘playmakers’ in midfield, all left footed- Dede Ayew, Kwodwo Asamoah and Christian Atsu was a bit audacious. For most parts I saw a duplication of roles by the three players, and mind you these are not the usual abrasive, aggressive midfielders who will go into all the tackles and win all the 50-50 balls. They love holding onto to ball but do very little winning it back when they lose it. They left Anthony Annan alone to cover up a defensive pair of Isaac Vorsah and John Boye who are yet to understand each other well in central defence That was too much to ask of the hardworking diminutive player whose lack of concentration early in the first half could have been disastrous but for the superb work by Adam Kwarasey. I raise this issue because Ghana is going into Saturday’s game without Derek Boateng and Agyemang Badu both of who can be relied upon to partner Annan and provide a solid midfield for the Stars. Appiah knows best why he dropped Boateng from the squad. And he knows best what this game means to his career, to Ghanaians and to local coaches. I am quite fascinated about the return of John Paintsil and i couldn't agree more with Appiah's decision to rely on experience at the right full back position following a poor outing by Daniel Opare in the same position few weeks ago. I hope Paintsil will not betray the confidence reposed in him. The Stars must be hungry for success more than ever before because this game will be the true test of Appiah’s coaching credentials. I backed him back then and I still will. Go Black Stars! Go!