As Ghana wait to find out who their opponents would be in Thursday’s semi-final, there’s one man who carries the burden of naming a starting eleven capable of winning and also plotting defeat for the opposition.

Claude Le Roy is the man who Ghana has entrusted the big job of guiding the Black Stars to the final. However, the Frenchman who started the competition minus inspirational captain, Stephen Appiah has again lost another captain, this time, John Mensah.

The tough defender was shown the red card in the quarter-final clash against Nigeria on Sunday and it thus ruled out of the semi-final match for Ghana.

As Ghanaians still celebrate elimination of fiercest rivals, Nigeria, who kicked out Ghana at the same stage of the tournament in the 2002 edition, Claude Le Roy is faced with the big picture of finding a replacement for his captain.

"I rate John as one of the five best defenders in the world and when you understand his role in the team, you will know what a blow it is to us," said Le Roy.

"John did not make a single mistake in the game (against Nigeria) and I have seen players not sent off for professional fouls much worse than that," added the Frenchman.

Now, Le Roy says he would wait to find out the opponent for the semi-final before making a decision.

And he has some boost as Illiasu Alhassan, who after failing to recover from injury for the start of the tournament is passed fit to play having trained with the team over the last four days but Le Roy is not in a rush to make a quick decision.

"I was hoping to give Shilla 20 minutes in the Nigeria game but didn't have the opportunity. I am not so sure I want to start him in a semi-final after so many months out of action," Le Roy said.

"In the end, though, it will be a tactical choice."