Stars plot to spoil Egypt’s party
Ghana's Black Stars are planning to ruin the party for the Pharaohs of Egypt as they clash in the final game of their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
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With Egypt having already picked the slot from Group E for the Mundial set for Russia next year, the outcome of this final game will not change anything.
Despite botching their chances at the beginning, the Stars put up some gusty performance to rekindle their hope, but the Pharaohs firmly held on to the lead they took from the beginning by beating Congo, the same time the Stars played goalless away to Uganda, to end their campaign. Now all they have is to play for pride and rekindle their hope for other international assignments.
That is what the three-time World Cup participants will be out to achieve when they play the Egyptians at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday.
The team have already begun their preparations as they seek to familiarise themselves with the turf well enough before their guests arrive on Friday.
Coach Kwasi Appiah told the Graphic Sports that nothing had changed for them so far as trying to win all matches they play is concerned and Sunday’s game will be no exception.
“Really with the World Cup slot already decided, there isn’t much at stake but we are playing for pride. We may not have started off well, but we want to end well.
“Egypt have indeed qualified, but we will deny them a celebration of a double against us. We should not allow them to continue with the party at our expense.
The least we can do is to also give our fans optimism for the future, so we’ll play against Egypt on Sunday as if the stakes are still very high,” Coach Appiah told the Graphic Sports, expressing high hope that the players he has called to camp will accomplish the mission.
He says it is for that reason that he has decided to hold the preparations at Cape Coast, given that it is the first time the Stars will be playing at that stadium.
“It is our first game at Cape Coast so we will train there all week so the players get used to the pitch and be comfortable playing on it on Sunday,” he explained.
As of yesterday, 21 players, including Christan Atsu, who Newcastle were reluctant to release, had reported to camp and held their first training session at the stadium.
Harrison Afful and Patirck Twumasi are expected to arrive today.