The nation’s dress rehearsal for next African Cup of Nations would be over this evening when hosts, Ghana line up against Benin in the finals of the Zenith Bank 4-Nation International Tournament.
The Ohene Djan stadium in Accra, one of the match venues for CAN 2008 which would open and host the finals of the competition would today host the final game of the mini tournament.
Before the finals, Togo and the United Arab Emirates play for the 3rd and 4th position at 15:00 hrs GMT at the same venue with an amount of $40,000 going to the third-placed side while the fourth team settles for $30,000.
Then the much expected game of the day comes at 17:30 hrs GMT between Ghana and Benin in the finals of the mini tournament as both finalists for next year’s African Cup of Nations clash to decide who wins the four-nation tourney.
Ghana secured a place in the finals after convincingly finishing off Togo 2-0 on Sunday with goals from Baffour Gyan and Laryea Kingston.
The Black Stars head into today’s final at full strength with no injury worries despite John Mensah going off on Sunday after picking up a knock.
Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy on Monday told the FA’s website, www.ghanafa.org, that the RC Rennes defender is fit and ready to play after joining his colleagues in training on Monday and Tuesday.
“No. He was training this (Monday) morning. It was a kick, you know it’s very painful during some few minutes but in that kind situation.
“It’s very bad to let the player play to stretch a bit more muscle but this morning everything was okay.”
Though Benin do not boost of titles in the footballing world, Claude Le Roy is not underestimating the ability of the Squirrels.
“I think that they didn’t play with all their best players for example Sessegnon, he was last month the best player of the premier league in France. He was just a substitute for the first game. He is very skillful as a striker and as a midfield player. He scored 5 to 6 goals in the premier league in France.
“He was the best player in the premier league and two of the players were not playing. We know it would be difficult. All the international games are difficult.
"We have to stay clear, stay well organized to create fancy football and we know we have to win the second game. It’s very important,” Le Roy said to the FA’s website at the team’s hotel a day after winning over Togo.
Black Stars defender, John Paintsil wants the team to stay focused to ensure a win which would serve as a morale booster as the road to Ghana 2008 nears an end.
“We are looking forward to beating Benin because we need to keep a winning form till CAN 2008. We don’t want any disaster; we don’t want any drawn game.
“We are staying focused.
“The performance was okay because for almost 3 years, we’ve not played in Accra and what we’ve done was good as we look forward to the next game,” the West Ham defender told the media in post game interview on Sunday.
The Squirrels after winning against the United Arab Emirates on Saturday courtesy an Abou Maiga first half goal were clamouring for a Ghana final.
Benin goalscorer, Abou Maiga says the win would spur on the team to play better in the next game and happens to be the finals and possibly win it, a situation he describes would boost their morale for next year’s African Cup of Nations.
“It means alot to us to start the competition this way. That (competition) would help us for our African Cup of Nations. We are so delighted to have won.
“We came for a win and we are now waiting for the Ghana game to see what would happen,” Maiga said in post game interview.
Benin, who will play at the Nations Cup for only the second time after taking one of the three places for best runners-up in the qualifying groups remain happy with the organisation of the tournament which is an exercise for the team ahead of the major tournament, CAN 2008, says team coach Gomez Wabi.
“It’s an exercise for us but I thank everyone for the organisation. I liked the game.
“It was a small performance because we were tired. We didn’t play well but would improve in the second match,” Gomez Wabi says.
“All teams would like to win (tournament). It would be good to play Ghana.”
It’s been such a great tournament and simply communicates Ghana’s readiness to host the 2008 African Cup of Nations as the Black Stars use the tournament to prepare for the Nations Cup in January where they have been drawn to play Guinea, Namibia and Morocco in Group A.