Maxwell Konadu believes Ghana can put themselves up as title candidates for the African Nations Championship if they get DR Congo out the way.

The meeting between both sides on Sunday in the quarter-final will be a repeat of their clash in the finals of the maiden tournament in 2009 which DR Congo won.

Ghana will not simply be looking for short-term gains of getting one over their rivals but progressing in the tournament exclusive to players based in their home countries.

"This approach will be similar to the Ethiopian match. The Ethiopian match was a very sensitive one and we needed to control the game for some time to see how things would turn out before we started to open. I think we will adopt similar approach," Konadu told www.ghanafa.org on Saturday.

"We have a score to settle with DR Congo. they have beaten us before in this competition to win the trophy. In the maiden edition of this competition, they beat us so we have to beat them this time around and advance to the next round of the competition.

"Apart from that, we also have to prove that we are serious contenders for the trophy so whatever that will make victory possible, we have to do it and be victorious."

Konadu went on to emphasise the importance of being psychologically ready for the game after DR Congo burst their bubble four years ago in the finals.

"That appears to give them some edge. But we have watched them in this competition and we have realized that they have been struggling. And once we are the winners of our group, we also go into the game very confident and feeling we are still top.

"But it is going to be a very difficult game, no doubt about it because they are one of the most physical sides in this tournament. they play with strength and power but we will try and match them using our techniques and the little power we also have to outwit them."