The Minister of Youth and Sports has reacted positively to the Black Stars World Cup fixture against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Sunday 13th October 2013. Following the draw in Egypt on Monday, most sports commentators have raised fears about the opposition.
But Hon Elvis Afryie Ankrahsees the match up differently.''We must respect Egypt but not fear them at all so the talk should be about preparing to beat them both home and away and not how to avoid them''
But Hon Elvis Afryie Ankrahsees the match up differently.''We must respect Egypt but not fear them at all so the talk should be about preparing to beat them both home and away and not how to avoid them''
Making reference to the 2-1 victory over
Zambia in Kumasi, the Sports Minister said preparations will start immediately
on all fronts to ensure that the level of support offered the Black Stars is
not only repeated butnotched up to maximum.
''The unity and lovedisplayed by
Ghanaians before, during and after the Zambia game was tremendous and the
players are bent on reciprocating that support with World Cup
qualification''.
He dismissed fears that the second leg in
Cairo would be a huge advantage to the North Africans '' Egypt should be
worried about coming here to play and not the other way round. We have
tobelieve in our team, the coach and the technical staff to deliver
because we fear no foe''.
In other potentially
explosivefixtures,Ivory Coast host Senegal in an all West African
Franco-phone clash where the Elephants face the Lions. North African giants
Tunisia will play comeback team Cameroon at home, whilst Burkina Faso host
Algeria.
Perhaps the most intriguing fixture of the
draw is the encounter between Ethiopia and Nigeria. On paper, it looks like a
straight forward tie for the African Champions who travel to Addis Ababa on
Saturday 12th October. However, the Ethiopians have shown a tenacity to
mix it up with the big boys and would not be intimidated by the Super Eagles.
In the case of Ghana, there has
beenoverwhelming lobbying for the crucial match to be played in Kumasi
purely on the grounds that the city, the venue and total support accorded the
Black Stars cannot be matched by any other venue. However, FA President Kwesi
Nyantakyi has indicated that the GFA will confirm the venue of thehome
legafter the draw.