Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, spent the better part of Tuesday playing poker and other games apparently to return to a better frame of mind after his team?s defeat by the Super Eagles in the opening game of the championship?s Group D.

He was playing the game with a dread-locked member of the squad and, after about three hours, he retired to the lobby of the hotel to make phone calls to loved ones in Ghana and promised that the Stars would shine in the game against Senegal on Friday, though he refused to make a prediction on what the score-line would be.

On his part, Zimbabwe?s coach, Charles Mhlauri, was evasive when he was approached for his comments on what is expected from his team when they confront the Eagles on Friday. He merely waived our reporter aside and noted that he was on his way to settling some things and will only speak later to reporters. He was to disappear later.

His players were, however, seen joining in the general mood of the hotel as they relaxed themselves in twos and threes, apparently gearing up for Friday?s all-important cracker against Eagles.