Soccer News of Monday, 22 February 2010

Source: Ghana FA

Black Stars to open CAN in Swaziland

A fixture against Swaziland in September would open Ghana's campaign in the qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup.

Ghana would be involved in two qualifying matches before the year comes to an end.

The Black Stars who finished second at the 2010 edition of the competition in Angola, will be away for the opening game against the Swazis on the first weekend of September 3-5.

Ghana's first home game in the qualifiers would be against Sudan on October 10 before the campaign takes a six-month break.

On resumption of the qualifiers, the Black Stars will be away to Congo in Brazzaville later in March 2011.

There are two successive home matches for Ghana against Congo and Swaziland in June and September 2011 before the Black Stars round up the qualifiers with an away fixture against Sudan in October.

Ghana were handed a tricky 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign following Saturday's draw ceremony in the DR Congo city of Lubumbashi as Sudan, Congo and Swaziland complete Group 9.

The Black Stars, the seeded side in the will be attempting to reach the finals of the competition to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Group winners plus best three runners-up qualify for finals.