Mali match 'extremely important'
Mali match 'extremely important'
Posted: 2009-11-10 10:23
Black Stars management committee chairman Fred Pappoe insist the team still has all to play for against Mali despite the fact both World Cup and Nations Cup places have been decided in Group D.
The meeting of the top two sides in the group was originally billed potentially as a World Cup place decider but the Black Stars wrapped up that ticket long ago ahead of the match in Kumasi.
Mali will come to Baba Yara stadium without star names Freddie Kanoute, Seydou Keita and Mo Sissoko.
But it’s a match Ghana wants to win and despite six call-ups to members of the Uner-20 team, the likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan have all been retained.
“We lose three points, we lose very vital ranking points that will be crucial for the draw of the Nations Cup and World Cup,” Pappoe said.
“If we lose we also lose our pride and integrity as a national team because since 2001 the Black Stars has not lost a competitive match at home. For us this is an extremely important match.”
The Stars have begun to gather in Accra where they will begin training on Tuesday evening before moving to Kumasi on Thursday.
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