A win for Ghana in Zimbabwe will ensure the Black Stars of a place among the 16 finalists, but their hopes were dealt a series of late blows with the eight Europe-based professionals in the squad withdrawing.

Among those who declined to travel was central defender Samuel Kuffour, a member of the Bayern Munich team that pipped Valencia in a penalty shootout last month to lift the European Champions League trophy.

...Nations Cup Passion Fizzles

Although Ghana leads Group six of the African Nations Cup qualifier and a win against Zimbabwe on Sunday will see them through to Mali, the squad will have to do with a majority of home-based players for such a crucial tie.

For Ghanaians, Zimbabwe does not rank among the top African teams, but there could have been a different approach by the Black Stars altogether if this match was against the likes of Nigeria.

Apart from the calibre of opposition the Black Stars are facing this weekend, it's becoming clearer all the time that qualifying for the Nations Cup is no longer an obsession for many Ghanaians.

And passions to the premier soccer event in the continent has further diminished with the failure of the national team to qualify for yet a again a maiden World Cup finals.

The refusal of most of the foreign-based players to turn down the invitation to play in Harare is not yet a big issue, partly because Ghanaians consider Zimbabwe as underdogs to the Black Stars and the country's football is still reeling over different forms of crisis and tragedies.

Newspapers are filled with other issues from the recent stadium disaster and its commission of inquiry to, who will become the new FA chairman; the trial of the sacked former sports minister and what will become of Hearts of Oak after the postponement of the World club championship.

Despite the lack of interest, victory for the Black Stars on Sunday will be a boost for Ghanaian home-based players, but defeat would certainly open the floor for heated debate.