GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyie

Stars prepare for the big week

The Black Stars circus will hit town again this week with hopes and expectations higher than ever before as Ghana look forward to a weekend that could see them seal a place at the 2010 World Cup.

Ghana play Sudan in a World Cup qualifier in Accra on Sunday but many Ghanaian eyes will also be fixed on a venue not far from Accra when Mali travel to Cotonou to play Benin.
And there are no prices for guessing what they hope the result from that match will be. With a five point advantage over Mali and six clear of Benin after three games, a draw will suit Ghana just fine just in case they beat Sudan.
It will leave the Black Stars seven points clear of Mali and eight clear of Benin even before the final two games.
But it’s all a question of ifs and those who have shaped the 2010 dream on and off are determined to approach Sunday’s game as just another crucial qualifier.
GFA president Kwesi Nyantekyie says there are no plans for a qualification party and his vice Fred Pappoe says they will do all they can to shield the team from the excitement gripping the nation.
Milovan Rajevac has warned his players there is still a long way to travel before Ghana clinches their place in South Africa but from monitoring Ghanaian sections on some social networking sites, this is a nation that feels its been done already.
Worlanyo Aidam wrote on Facebook: It’s not about whether we can or we can’t. We are already there. No team can stop us. South African 2010, here we come. There will be many Ghanaians feeling that way ahead of the big Sunday.

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