Former Technical Director of Ghana football, Fred Osam-Duodu, has cautioned the Black Stars to be on their guard and go all out next month to negate the effect of any conspiracy in the final World Cup qualifiers that could result in World Cup heartbreak in the most unexpected circumstances.

After the Baby Scorpions' promising FIFA Under-17 Championship dream came crashing in an astonishing twist of events, he believes that The Gambia's experience in Peru offers useful lessons for Ghana not to be overtaken by events when they play Cape Verde in Praia next month in a match that is expected to seal Ghana's historic World Cup appearance.

"They should approach every match as though it is the make or break game, which would eliminate any form of complacency.

My advice is that they count one before two... when they get to the bridge then they know how to cross it," advised Coach Osam-Duodu, as he reflected on the all possibilities that could be employed to derail Ghana's dream World Cup berth.

According to FIFA Ghana is within touching distance from qualifying for Germany and only a heavy defeat by Cape Verde and a similar massive win by DR Congo over south Africa in Johannesburg could turn the applecart against Ghana.

These technicalities, according to coach Osam-Duodu, leave room for all manner of manipulations similar to what he perceived to have been employed to eliminate the Gambia from Peru 2005.

"Look at my case... how can Brazil, who I beat 3-1, beat Qatar 6-0, a team I had defeated 5-2?" It's a questionable result and the situation demands that the Black Stars should not take chances at all."

An away victory over Cape Verde should be the icing on the cake and a good conclusion of a fairy tale story for Ghana.

"The last match should not be taken lightly, because it would be a better record to win the final game and qualify rather than lose and still qualify," said the revered Ghanaian coach.

Coach Osam-Duodu was in charge of Ghana's abortive campaign to qualify for the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup, when he was appointed as a late replacement for Cecil Jones Attuquayefio who was sacked after a poor run of results ands a strained relationship with the Ghana Football Association.

As a Ghanaian Coach Osam-Duodu cannot hide his delight that Ghana is about to take "its rightful place among the world's football powers" and says he is ready to arrange for the Stars to pitch camp in the Gambia to prepare for the October 8 clash and then fly direct to Praia to battle Cape Verde.

"When I was the technical director of the GFA I advised that players like John Mensah and others who had graduated from the under-20 team should be drafted into the Black Stars and today that advice has paid dividend.

And as a Ghanaian I can't be happier. These are good times for Ghana football."

Story by Maurice Quansah