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The
Black Stars, as one of the pre-tournament favourites, will be
especially disappointed to be playing in this match. They dominated
large parts of their semifinal against Chipolopolo, but missed chances –
including a penalty from Asamoah Gyan – cost them dear.
However,
Samuel Inkoom insists that Ghana will be able to raise their game and
end the tournament on a high when they meet Mali’s Eagles tonight.
"We need to go all out to get something," he told ghanafa.org.
"It is unfortunate that we could not take the trophy, that was out target but I believe we have to do something for the nation.
"It might be third place but it's another game and important to win for our country.
"We will pick up ourselves and go into the game. We have psyched ourselves up and will do our best."
Ghana
defeated Mali 2-0 in the teams’ Group D match thanks to goals from Gyan
and Andre Ayew, but Inkoom does not believe that will have any bearing
on the bronze playoff.
"It won't be easy," he said. "They will come for revenge but we will do our maximum best to beat them again."
Mali
went down 1-0 in a hard-fought match against Ivory Coast in the
semifinals. It continued their horrendous run in the last-four stage of
the competition (they have lost four semis and last appeared in the
final back in 1972), but defender Ousmane Berthe insists that the Eagles
are proud of their efforts at the tournament.
"I'm
happy, because I'm here today, because we were in the semifinal, and
I'm going to try hard to get third place," Berthe said after the defeat
to the Elephants.
Ghana
will be without four key players for the match: John Mensah and
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu are both injured, while Derek Boateng and John
Boye are suspended. Mali have no such worries, though coach Alain
Giresse is likely to use his squad’s fringe players anyway.
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