GhanaFA

Preview: Ghana target quarter-final place

9 years ago
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Coach Avram Grant’s side are hoping to seal a place in the last eight of the 2015 African Cup of Nations if they secure a win over South Africa in their final group match.

Currently with three points in Group C, Ghana will need a win to make it into the quarter final stage of the competition.

The game which will be handled by Madagascan referee, Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza,is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 GMT at the Estadio De Mongomo.

Group leaders Senegal will take on Algeria in the other group game at the Estadio de Malabo with both matches kicking off at the same time.

The Black Stars will guarantee their place in the next round if they can beat South Africa after they lost their opener to Senegal before a 1-0 win against Algeria courtesy to a last minute goal from captain Asamoah Gyan.

At the team's pre-match press conference on Monday, Coach Avram Grant reiterated their desire to win the game and qualify to the next stage of the competition.

"This is the last match of the group and therefore we want to qualify and we want to win this game".

"We are in a position to qualify and we will do our best but I think we need to give a lot of respect to South Africa, the play very good football", he said.

The last time the two sides met in the Nations Cup was in 2002 with the game ending goalless after the 2000 edition ended 1-0 in favor of the South Africans.

However, the last two competitive matches between the Black Stars and their South African counterparts saw Ghana win 3-0 and 2-0 in 2004 and 2005 respectively (2006 World Cup qualifiers).

Grant will have a full squad to select his starting line up as there are no fresh injuries in camp ahead of the crucial match.