Ghana could take a giant step to reaching the inaugural African Nations Championship – CHAN - in Ivory this weekend when the local Black Stars play in the first round stage against Togo.
The local Black Stars would be at home, the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra in the first leg match as Claude Le Roy guides his team for possible qualification to the finals of the Championship.
With many nations in action this weekend, the game in Accra is one of the biggest pairings as renews the rivalry between both West African countries who share the same border.
Given their impressive preliminary round performance with a double victory over Niger last month, another win this Sunday would better Ghana’s chances of reaching the ultimate round of qualifiers for the maiden competition designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues on the continent.
However, Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy envisages an improvement from the preliminary round match as he gets ready for Togo, who will be play first game in the qualifiers of the competition after drawing bye from the preliminary stages following the withdrawal of Benin.
“The first challenge was to qualify against Niger and to try to win the two games. In Africa, it is always very difficult to win away games. There are no small countries even though the standard of Ghana’s football is much higher as compared to that of Niger. It’s always very difficult since this is a young team.
“We played a serious game and managed to win the game normally. But we didn’t play a superb game in the second leg. Congratulations to the players but I repeat it is very difficult to win away games. In Niger it’s not only their local national team but their real national team except with a couple of absentees since all their players play in the championship,” he said to www.ghanafa.org .
Such thoughts are unlikely to concern Le Roy, who would now have to secure a win against Togo, Sunday afternoon.
“The spirit of this young local national team is fantastic and their behaviour is fantastic and the discipline is at a high level. Now we have to improve the technical and tactical level but for them, it’s a beginning of a very beautiful adventure.
“They have to now concentrate on the two games against Togo. It wouldn’t be easy.
Despite being presented with a limited time to gather his players around due to the domestic league action, Le Roy feels that his squad has enough quality and would grasp his methods as Ghana pushes for a place at the finals of the Championship.
“It’s never difficult in a way when you explain everything in a simple way. The players are clever and they feel the football way. But they miss a lot tactical awareness.
“We are working a lot tactically because they need improve at this level. On physical levels, they are not so bad; they have to work on all the bases of technique. There’s a huge potential,” the Frenchman added.