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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Below par Messi and Argentina fail to impress

Below par Messi and Argentina fail to impress  - Argentina didn't do their tag as World Cup contenders much good on Wednesday as they laboured to a 0-0 draw against Romania in a friendly which also saw Lionel Messi struggle with illness.

Who are grouped with Iran, debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina and African champions Nigeria in Brazil -- were hindered by a clearly under the weather Messi, who played the whole of the match despite being physically sick seven minutes in. 

Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts during the International friendly football match Romania vs Argentina in Bucharest, Romania on March 5, 2014 (AFP Photo/Daniel Mihailescu)

Argentinian coach Alex Sabella started with pretty much his first choice side with Messi in the playmaking role while Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain were the strikeforce and other regulars such as Angel di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta also featured.

With Messi not at his best little of note was created in a first-half which saw few chances for either side.

However, Romanian midfielder Alexandre Maxim should have done better when he was found unmarked in the 33rd minute but he aimed his downward header straight at Monaco 'keeper Sergio Romero who kept it out with his legs.

The Romanian midfielder thought he had atoned for that miss when he fired home into the far corner five minutes later but the linesman ruled that the ball had gone out when it was crossed into the box.

The visitors had their best chance of the first-half a minute later as a piece of individual magic from Aguero saw him slip past two defenders and into the box only to miss the target.

Maxim was withdrawn at half-time -- one of two Romanian changes -- while Sabella kept his side unchanged with Messi seemingly recovered.

Aguero had an early chance in the second-half as he slipped free of the home defence but he took the ball too wide and his shot was cleared for a corner which was the last piece of notable action for him as he was taken off and replaced by Rodrigo Palacio.

Messi was still not 100% and it was left to others to trouble the Romanians with Zabaleta and Palacios combining in the 65th minute to set up Higuain but his shot shaved the post.

The ponderous Palacios was at fault for a terrible miss with 20 minutes remaining.

Di Maria got free on the left and found Palacios five yards out but he stumbled over the ball and saw it drift wide.

Di Maria also let a golden opportunity go abegging as Zabaleta found him with a brilliant 60 yard ball but his volley went high over the bar.

Argentina nearly won it five minutes from time as Messi chipped over the defence to find Palacios who then sent over a teasing cross but Higuain's volley was tipped over the bar. ( AFP )

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Taribo West ’12 years older’ than we thought

Partizan chief: Taribo West ’12 years older’ than we thought - Former Nigeria defender Taribo West, who played for Internazionale and Derby County among other clubs, has been accused of lying about his age.

West, who retired in 2008, is listed as 39 years old today in his Wikipedia profile, but former Partizan Belgrade president Zarko Zecevic, says he has already passed the age of 50.

The defender joined the club in 2002, leaving two years later.

But despite the enormous gap between West’s stated age and his alleged actual age, Zecevic says he is still glad that he signed the player.

“He joined us saying he was 28. We only later found out he was 40, but he was still playing well so I don’t regret having him on the team,”' Zecevic said.

West, Croatian media reports claim, also then tried to join Rijeka some years later, saying he was 32, but was in fact 44 at the time.

He did not sign for them, but had a brief spell at Plymouth and finished his career in Iran at Paykan FC, by which time, if Zecevic is correct, West would have been 46.

West was part of Nigeria’s Olympic gold-medal winning football team of 1996. Several members of that squad, including Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, have been accused of being many years older than officially stated.

World of Sport

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