Ghana captain, Stephen Appiah says the world cup draw in Leipzig yesterday gives the Black Stars an opportunity to prove themselves.

Ghana face a difficult opening fixture against Italy's Azzuri when they make their World Cup debut on June 15.

The Black Stars will face the three-time world champions, the United States and the Czech Republic.

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah told BBC Sport that the draw gives them an opportunity to prove themselves.

Appiah said: "Every team will be difficult but Ghanaians like challenges and when difficult challenges like this come along, we take them seriously."

Paolo Rossi, top scorer when Italy last won the World Cup in 1982, said: "It seems obvious to me that the Czech Republic and us are the strongest two teams in the group.

"Ghana is a bit of an unknown quantity and the U.S. are solid," he said, referring to the other teams in Group E.


Reactions from Africa's other representatives:

The Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel said on Friday that the World Cup draw had left his team in the toughest group.

The Elephants were paired with two-time winners Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro in Group C.

"I think this is the toughest one," the Michel said after the draw in the Germany city of Leipzig.

The Frenchman added: "It's extremely difficult but it will do us good as we will see some great football."

The close links between Portugal and its former colony Angola will add spice to their opening Group D meeting in Cologne on 11 June when Angola make their World Cup debut.

The last time Portugal and Angola met in a friendly match in Lisbon four years ago, four Angolan players were sent off for brutal tackles and dissent and the game was abandoned.

"The meeting with Angola will be a very special moment. It'll be a great festival because our countries are related," Portugal forward Luis Boa Morte said.

Mexico and Iran are the other teams in Group D.

Togo coach Stephen Keshi told BBC Sport that he was delighted after the draw pitted his Hawks with France, South Korea and Switzerland in Group A.

"There are no easy teams in the football today but we're happy with what we got," Keshi, Nigeria's 1994 World Cup skipper, told BBC Sport.

"We're very happy to be drawn with France because we play their style of football and it might work out well for us."

Tunisia are the only one of Africa's five representatives in Germany who have any previous World Cup finals experience.

The African champions were caged in a comfortable Group H where Spain, Saudi Arabia and the Ukraine will provide the opposition.

The north Africans are still seeking to get past the first round in the competition.

Credit: BBC