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What: African Cup of Nations, Group A
Who: Ghana (1st, 6/6pts) vs Morocco (3rd, 3/6pts)
When: Monday 28 Janaury 2008, 17:00 GMT
Where: Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra

A Decisive Encounter

The Ghanaians have yet to impress in this year’s tournament, and even though the team lies atop their group with the maximum six points, a faltering performance against Namibia has left a lot of Ghanaian supporters wondering if the Black Stars can really go all the way to the final.

The team has particularly lacked that cutting edge upfront, and the defence has shown itself capable of caving in under some carefully-orchestrated pressure.

However, a mere draw will see the host team progress to the next round, and that should not be asking too much from the team.

The Ghanaian midfield is undoubtedly the squad's most treasured asset, and it is a central line that can hold its own against any country in the continent.

But coach Claude Le Roy will be looking forward to seeing how the other department in his team can step up their play and give the millions of supporting Ghanaian fans something to cheer about.

Meanwhile, opposite number Henri Michel watched with some sadness as his Atlas Lions were being tamed by a more purposeful Guinean side in their last group game. He was utterly disappointed with the all-round performance of his team, and at a press-conference after the match promised to make drastic improvements before this game against Ghana.

“We thought of injecting new blood in the midfield to make it more efficient but I just realised it was the whole team. We were affected as things didn’t work out the way it should. So, we are just working on it and expecting it to be better,” the Frenchman said.

“They made mistakes which they paid for. Next is Ghana, and that is all they have to focus on,” he concluded.

The Moroccans have it all to do if they are really intent on making it to the next round. Aside from the 11 Ghanaian players on the pitch of play, the team will also be playing against a vociferous crowd, all cheering on the hosts.

This is a massive game for both sides, and even though a draw could still mathematically take both teams through, the Moroccans really do not want to bank on Namibia pulling off a result against Guinea. Not even the bookmakers would want that to happen.

Down Memory Lane

The sides have met 11 times in the past, with the Moroccans coming out tops on five occasions, with four draws and two Ghanaian defeats.

In the 1980 edition of the African Nations Cup in Nigeria, this same scenario played itself out. The Ghanaians only needed a draw to qualify to the next round of the competition while the Moroccans needed to win and, bingo, the Moroccans got their victory against all odds.

This time around, the Moroccans will be the determining factor as to the pace and intensity of this game. If the Atlas Lions are able to apply enough pressure on the Ghanaians, the Black Stars could be forced to come out and attack as well, creating a fast-paced game of football. But if the Moroccan midfield cannot find a way round that of the Ghanaians, then we will have a game destined to end in a draw.

TEAM NEWS

Ghana

Claude Le Roy pulled a fast one on many soccer analysts in the last game with regards to his squad list. With several players supposedly ruled out with injury prior to the Namibian encounter, it was a shock to find them all on the pitch of play.

So, the team will no doubt however remain the same, as this match is as crucial as the previous two. A slip up in tactics for the Ghanaians could result in a loss against Morocco, and that would effectively end the tournament for the host team: a nightmare scenario to be avoided.

In goals should be Birmingham City’s Richard Kingston, who, since dethroning Sammy Adjei, has maintained the number one spot in the squad.

The defence should be manned by captain John Mensah and Bayer Leverkusen’s Hans Sarpei. The full-back spots would be held by John Paintsil and Erci Addo.

The team's midfield is set to be led by the England based duo of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari. Hearts' Laryea Kingston would be on the right wing, while we could see son of legendary Ghanain striker Dede Ayew making his first start for the team on the left side.

Up front, the forward line should be led by Junior Agogo and Udinese's Asamoah Gyan.

Coach Le Roy should maintain his favoured 4-4-2 formation with a very compact midfield that absorbs the opponents' attack early and also feeds the attack. If this midfield is breached, however, then may can be problems ahead.

Morocco

Coach Henri Michel has promised to ring some changes to the side that performed poorly against the Guineans.

Hat-trick hero Soufiane Alloudi should return to the starting squad for the Moroccans. But otherwise, the substitutions will be quite hard to predict at present, considering the coach’s outburst at the performance of his team in the last game.

In goal, however, should be Raja Casablanca’s stopper Khalid Fouhami.

The defence is set to be led by Abdeslam Ouaddou and Talal El Karkouri, while Michael Chretien and El Armine Erbate should play out wide.

The midfield should have Tarik Sektioui in the starting line up, along with Soufiane Alloudi and Youssef Safri. Either Houcine Kharja or Youssef Mouktari could join them.

French-based duo of Youssef Hadji and Maroune Chamakh should comprise what is on paper a formidable front pairing.

Henri Michel should maintain a flexible 4-4-2 formation that sometimes transforms into a 4-3-3 later in the game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ghana- Michael Essien: The Chelsea midfielder should be instrumental to the squad in today’s game. His wealth of experience should come into play, ensuring that the team’s midfield holds strong against the rampaging Moroccans

Morocco- Youssef Alloudi: The hat trick hero should prove decisive yet again for his team. His impeccable positioning abilities might just be the difference between exit and qualification for the next round for the Moroccans.

PREDICTION

This is a very hard one to call. Neither teas has played particularly well so far in the tournament, yet they would both be conscious of the result in the other game being played simultaneously between Guinea and Namibia - thus, one slip in concentration could prove decisive.

But history has a way of repeating itself, and I just sense a reoccurrence of 1980. This might not be the popular opinion of many soccer analysts, but it seems to me to be in the offing.

Ghana 0:1 Morocco

Awenlimobor Sylvester
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