Ghana hoping for comfortable 'Zebra' crossing

 

 

Finally the wait is almost over as the Black Stars journey to exorcist the demons that have led to 30 years of anguish and unthinkable grief is set to start. 
The Gabonese town of Franceville is the stage that will host the first phase of this road to redemption.  A journey that the whole of Ghana will follow with mostly their hearts and little of their heads.
From my Grandfather listening to the over zealous and at times  misleading radio commentary in a suburb of Kade to the whole neighbourhood  gathered around a TV set hoping the rains go away and come  another day.
From the Giant screens at the Accra Mall to the overcrowded environments of University screening rooms through to those in foreign lands watching  via internet feed. The wait is finally over and as if the whole of Ghana has been given a sneak peak into the future, the widely held consensus is this is our turn, out time.
Confronting the Black Stars at the fist hurdle is African Cup of Nations newcomers Botswana. A relative unknown in football circles, 58 places behind the Black Stars on the Fifa rankings.
A country's whose most significant football record is that they were the first country to qualify for the ongoing Nations Cup.
It is will be a battle of one of Africa's illustrious sons in football versus a hardly heard of name. A battle of a country aiming for the trophy and one who might hold street carnivals if they make it out of the group stages. It is a classic David and Goliath battle with Ghana hoping David does not bring his sling around.
With the shocks of the first match day and Ivory Coast not so impressive showing the Black Stars will be extra careful not to underrate any team.
In reference to Senegal's shock defeat to Zambia Sulley Muntari said "If you look at what happened on the opening day it is easy to see you cannot write off any team. We are very confident but we won't be taking any team lightly."
GYAN'S PRESENCE, SELOLWANE'S ABSENCE.
Botswana go into this historic clash without their star man and experienced campaigner Dipsy Selolwane. The SuperSport United striker misses the game through suspension.
"I'm very, very disappointed. After working so hard all these years and finally getting to a big tournament and then not being able to play, not because of performance but because of an accumulation of yellow cards is disappointing," he told SuperSport.
With his star man suspended and Mogorosi ruled out of the tournament coach Stanley Tshosane still believes his team will cause the tectonic plates of African football to shift.
The Zebra's coach Stanley Tshosane believes his team are not here to just make the numbers, saying: "We are the least experienced side in our group, but we have done our homework and I can assure Botswana that we will not just add numbers at the Nations Cup . We're not here on holiday, we will surprise someone." Can that someone be tournament favourites Ghana?
The big news from the Ghana camp is that star striker Asamoah Gyan is fit and would play a part in the Black Stars opening game. A massive miracle if you consider he was a doubt for the tournament three weeks ago. Such pieces of good fortune are what helps to fix a trophy winning puzzle.
"I am fit and ready," he told KickOffGhana.com. "As you know I played last week and scored so it's a very good sign.
"Like the rest of the team I am really looking forward to the first game. We want the best possible start because for a competition like this it is very important."
With the  pre tournament visit from the office of the President done, all is set for the Black Stars to improve on that record of one win in the last four African Cup of Nations opening games. All is set for the Black stars to safely make their way on this "Zebra" crossing.
Probable Starting Eleven: Adam Kwarasey, John Painstill, John Boye, John Mensah, Masawudu, Derek Boateng, Agyemang Badu, Sulley Muntari, Dede Ayew, Jordan Ayew , Asamoah Gyan