From Abakrampa to Yeji, from Kwahu Bukuruwa to Aflao, and from Elubo to Bolga, I wonder whether there is a single conversation at home or public place which will not touch on the big task confronting the Black Stars of this incredible and realistic Coast of Gold.
The hour has come, and in just about two weeks from now, what will happen will happen, as the "judgement day" is coming in Cairo and the world will be watching the play-off of all play-offs!
What an interesting assignment. So much water has passed under the bridge since the Black Stars moved heaven and earth to break the neck of the Pharaohs of Egypt in Kumasi on that fateful Tuesday, October 15, 2013. And what has been the focus afterwards is how the Egyptians will react to the massive 6-1 defeat they suffered in the first leg of the proverbial play-off.
To every soccer follower, the issue here is not about how the second leg will be fought, but more importantly, how safe it will be for the Black Stars in that crucial moment of triumph. Egypt, and for that matter the world soccer governing body, FIFA, have assured the Black Stars, their officials, supporters and the world of absolute safety before, during and after the final verdict in that volatile region where political turmoil has been knawing the bones of both the young and old.
Just last Monday morning in the midst of violent protests, the recently deposed head of state, Mohamed Morsi, was sent to court to face justice for what the military forces term as incitement of violent demonstrations during which hundreds of Egyptians lost their lives. And you can imagine what can happen if some Boko Haram people lay siege to demand justice from the Black Stars and their followers for beating their beloved Pharaohs.
It must be noted that as the Black Stars prepare for that most important assignment, with plans to have a final brush-up in Ethiopia, what Coach Kwasi Appiah and his team are looking forward to is not how to seal their qualification to Brazil, but how to avoid the inevitable jubilation. It is perhaps for that reason that the Black Stars supporters have been dissuaded from travelling to Egypt for that incredible final which, as at now, is unpredictable.
FIFA is conscious of the importance of supporters in the game, and for obvious reasons, should have acceded to the demand of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to get the match played on a neutral ground to ensure safety. The patronage will be huge, and it must tell on the Brazil extravaganza.
The news that the Egyptian team has been promised a huge amount of one million dollars each upon their qualification to the World Cup they have missed for nearly three decades makes interesting reading. I cannot actually bring myself to believe what that motivation will create in the minds of the Aboutrikas and the entire team, knowing that they will need five goals without reply, and whether or not that news will not force the
Black Stars to tighten their grip on the Pharaohs.
Indeed, that huge amount has placed a strong demand on the Egyptians to burn themselves out, knowing that the Black Stars are not an easy nut to crack, and are not prepared to surrender their heavy lead.
From an audacious and enterprising goalkeeper Fatau Dauda to the last player, the desire to be at the World Cup for the third time on the trot is so paramount on their minds, and as was demonstrated in the first leg, they are going in to shock the Egyptians for the second time.
Now knowing the enormity of the task ahead, the Pharaohs are leaving no stone unturned to ensure victory and would like to employ every tactic, spiritually and psychologically, from the moment the Black Stars land there.
In fact, despite the unrest in that country, all national focus is on how to overcome the deadly Stars with a massive victory which will be unprecedented in the annals of soccer. It will be recalled that the last time the Pharaohs beat the Black Stars heavily was during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 when an Aggrey-Fynn-led team succumbed to a 5-1 defeat. And the recent defeat is a record-breaking phenomenon.
It is a matter of serious agitation as everybody wonders which countries will go through to secure their tickets for Brazil. Of course, unless the unexpected happens, Nigeria, who earlier beat their Ethiopian counterparts 2-1 in Addis Ababa, can be expected to be there after the second leg in Nigeria, so also can be the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire who are already up by 3-1 over Senegal, the second leg of which will be played in Morocco, instead of Dakar.
I think Cameroun can be relied upon to accelerate to overtake Tunisia after their goalless draw in the first leg in Tunis. The Algeria-Burkina Faso duel fairly tilts in favour of the Algerians in the second leg at home, though the Burkinabe cannot be underrated.
All FIFA is hoping for is that the African teams will match all other continents boot for boot.
God bless!
Graphic Sports/Ghana
