Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win

Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win - Ghana's Black Stars are keeping their feet on the ground ahead of Tuesday's decisive Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash against South Africa after a dramatic win over Algeria.

On Friday, skipper Asamoah Gyan returned from a bout of malaria to sink tournament favourites Algeria in stoppage time in Mongomo as the Black Stars bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Senegal with a 1-0 success against the continent's best team.

Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan (L) scores a goal past Algeria defender Carl Medjani during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group C match in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea on January 23, 2015 (AFP Photo/Carl De Souza) 

A win over South Africa on Tuesday will guarantee the four-time African champions passage to the last-eight of the competition, while a draw and Algeria failing to beat Senegal on the same night could also get them past the group stage.

However, Ghana coach Avram Grant said his "new generation" of Black Stars aim to do the business against a South African team who have impressed him.

"Nothing has been decided yet in this group," insisted former Chelsea manager Grant.

"Yes, we may have beaten the number one team in Africa, but we now face South Africa, who qualified for this tournament ahead of a big team like Nigeria.

"They played very well in their first game even though they eventually lost (3-1) to Algeria. They are a fantastic team.

"We are a young team who have shown we do not give up and so we will come into any game to win it."

The returning Gyan proved to be Ghana's hero despite admitting to having "some physical problems", and now the striker is looking ahead to the next game.

"South Africa have shown they are a very good side right from the qualifiers and so we do not expect an easy match against them," he said.

"It was a team effort against Algeria, everybody working for everybody, and we will count on this again against South Africa."

Meanwhile, Marseille star Andre Ayew declared that Ghana should not be written off as genuine contenders at this Cup of Nations despite not yet finding their best form.

"This is not the best Ghana, many of us like Gyan and I are not 100 percent fit, but we can do a lot more," he said.

"Even after the win against Algeria, we cannot afford to get over-confident. We're happy, but won't take anything for granted. Algeria is past and next is South Africa. It will be a very tough battle on Tuesday.”

He added: "Expectations back at home must now have risen, but Ghana have always dealt with the pressure even though it could be difficult."

The Black Stars last won the Cup of Nations in 1982, although they have reached the last four of the previous four editions, even losing in the final to Egypt in 2010 in Angola. ( AFP )

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World Cup success a lift for troubled Egypt

World Cup success a lift for troubled Egypt - The impressive run of Egypt in World Cup qualifying over the last fortnight has much more significance for the country than just moving the tournament dream a step closer, coach Bob Bradley told Reuters.

"At a time when the country is looking for things that are good, this is very important," he said of Egypt's seamless progress to the last phase of African qualifiers for next year's tournament in Brazil.

Victories in Zimbabwe and Mozambique over the last fortnight in preliminary competition ensure Egypt kept up a 100 percent record in their group, the only African side with five wins from five matches.

  

Zimbabwe's Khama Billiat (C) fights for the ball between Egypt's Wael Gomaa (L) and Mohamed Ibrahim during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match at Borg El Arab "Army Stadium", west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, 230 km (143 miles) north of Cairo, March 26, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

They have one more to play but are guaranteed top place in their section and will take part in the playoffs in October and November which determine places for Brazil.

"This team has a strong belief, we have finished the group and now we begin to think about how to be ready for the playoffs because the goal for everyone in Egypt is of course the World Cup," Bradley said.

"To finish the group early was very important. To come away on the road and take six points says a lot about the mentality of the group," said the American after the latest triumph, a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo on Sunday. They also beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in Harare.

"We have a lot of belief in what we are doing, it showed that we can win at home and on the road and now we only think about how to be ready for the playoffs," Bradley added.

Egypt's political and social upheaval in the wake of the Arab spring, has impacted dramatically on football in the country where the league only restarted six months ago after a year-long hiatus and where most matches are still played behind closed doors for security concerns.

Bradley, coach of the United States team at the last World Cup in South Africa, was an unusual choice as Egypt coach when he took the job in October 2011.

But has made a good impression in Cairo with his decision to stay on despite the turmoil of the last 18 months since a stadium riot in Port Said caused 74 deaths and led to the near shutdown of the game in the north African country.

Egypt has been increasingly obsessed by the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup since their last appearance in Italy in 1990, despite record-breaking dominance in the African Nations Cup finals over the last decade.

"Brazil is two games away. We must keep focus. One game at a time," Bradley said.

Reuters

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World Cup dates moved after Nigeria complain

World Cup dates moved after Nigeria complain - FIFA have moved dates of forthcoming African World Cup qualifiers to accommodate Nigeria's participation at the Confederation Cup and ensure no advantage accrues to their opponents. 

The next two rounds of African zone Group F matches will take place on June 5 and 12, each brought ahead by three days "in order to ensure a swift and timely arrival of the African champion in Brazil," a FIFA media spokesman said on Monday. 

Reuters/Reuters - Kenya's Victor Wanyama (C) challenges Nigeria's Brown Ideye (R) during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar March 23, 2013. REUTERS/Afolabi

After winning the African Nations Cup in February and qualifying for the eight-team tournament in Brazil, from June 15-30, Nigeria faced changes to their World Cup qualifying schedule and had key games in Kenya and Namibia pushed forward. 

But Nigeria then complained their closest rivals Malawi, who share top place in the group with the Super Eagles, could gain an advantage because their matches would be played three days after Nigeria's. 

FIFA have since ordered all matches now be played on the same day with Kenya hosting Nigeria and Malawi playing at home to Namibia on Wednesday, June 12, having been moved forward from June 8. 

Nigeria then travel to Namibia and Malawi playing home again, this time to Kenya, on June 12 instead of June 15. // Reuters

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