The Black Stars of Ghana would take to the pitch in Alexandria later today (Sunday) with the awareness that any result less than a win would seriously jeopardise their chances of qualifying for a fourth successive world cup tournament.
The Stars take on the resurgent giant of the African game Egypt, already limping after a self inflicted wound of failing to beat minnows Uganda in the first group game, at home – meaning a negative result puts Ghana at a horrible disadvantage, already falling behind the pack with just two games gone.
The team enters the crunch game without captain and record goalscorer Asamoah Gyan, with the Al Ahli forward injured again, as he usually is these days. Another perpetually injured key player missing the game is Kwadwo Asamoah, although, luckily, deputy skipper Andre Ayew is back from injury and leads the team out for the must win game.
Ayew has attempted to dampen expectations ahead of the game but there is no doubt of the importance of the tie, to be held before a 75,000 capacity crowd at the Borg Al- Arab Stadium in Alexandria. The last time Ghana played Egypt in their backyard the Pharaohs were 2-1 winners – although that was after they had suffered a 6-1 drubbing in Kumasi in the 2014 world cup qualifying play-off.
That result fuels the desire for revenge of the Egyptians, who have a talented team spearheaded by AS Roma’s speedster Mohammed Salah. The Stars recent form has been atrocious, winless in four games, and unless things change tonight Ghana risks missing out on the world cup for the first time since 2006.
Uganda beat Congo 1-0 in the second group game, sending The Cranes to four points and top of the group. Anything less than a win and Ghana racks up a sizeable, though not insurmountable – points deficit in the increasingly competitive group.
Ghana vrs Egypt kicks off at 1600 GMT later today.