The top-of-the-table clash between Ghana and Guinea at the Franceville stadium on Wednesday will all but decide the final two places for the quarter-final at the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

The black stars started their AFCON 2012 performance on a sluggish note with a drab performance against the zebra’s of Botswana.

The Stars’ troubles in the tournament started with Inkoom playing at the left back instead of his normal right back position.

The question to ask is was this because Plavi still wanted him (Inkoom) in his first team due to his current form?

Is John Paintsil better than him at the right full back position?

Could Plavi have put him in the number seven position instead?

Fortunately, Massawudu Alhassan was on hand in the second half against Botswana and in the match against Mali: does that signify the end of Inkoom’s involvement in the tournament?

Ghana’s performance in the Mali match was generally an improvement over the first.

A particular bane of the team has been in the area of free kicks which has been poor in nature to say the least with Sulley Muntari and Agyeman Badu being the worst culprits.

Asamoah Gyan’s superb free kick against Mali was however in sharp contrast with previous dead ball opportunities offered the Stars.

One could only hope this remarkable free kick gives much impetus to the assigned free kick takers to do better.

Worth mentioning is Dede Ayew’s (MVP in the match against Mali) brilliance on the ball coupled with his consistent ball possession which inures a lot to the benefit of the Stars especially in the area of free kicks since he (Dede) has been on the receiving end of most of them.

One would only hope he doesn’t sustain any serious injury as the tournament progresses.

His younger brother we believe should kiss the tournament good-bye after failing to impress when given the opportunity.

He however would remain an integral part of the future Stars team.

It is worth noting that Sulley Muntari is yet to impress but Coach Plavi surprisingly seems to have hope in him claiming Sulley would have his moment of truth in the tournament.

Ironically, leading on six points and three points clear ahead of Guinea in Group D counts almost for nothing with Caf’s announcement on Sunday of the qualification mode from the group stages.

According to Caf’s Article 72 regulations, in the event where two or more teams are tied on points after the conclusion of the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the greater number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question; the best goal difference in the matches between the teams; greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; goal difference in all group matches; greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches; fair play points system taking into account the number of yellow and red cards and drawing of lots by CAF Organising Committee.

The Black Stars are not out of the woods yet and hence would need only a point to guarantee they sail through and retain top spot in the touted group of death.

The Syli Nationale have so far had an average performance with a one nil loss to Mali and then recovering to whip Botswana 6-1.

Their coach, Michel Dussuyer, has promised to increase the tempo against the Black Stars with some players calling the match the “final” for them.

The 6:1 thrashing of the zebra’s has opened up the group and could make the Guineans favourites ahead of the match. The Syli nationale have a great deal of respect for the Stars but that would not prevent them from fancying their chances of progressing at the detriment of the Stars.

Possible line up for Wednesday’s match:

GoalKeeper

Adam Kwarasey

Defence

John Paintsil, Isaac Vorsah, John Boye, Massawudu Alhassan

Midfield

Anthony Annan, Samuel Inkoom, Agyemang Badu, Andre Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah

Attack

Asamoah Gyan