Soccer News of Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Source: Joy Online

I’ll be surprised if Ghana fails to beat Egypt - Nyaho Tamakloe

Former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe has revealed he will be astonished if Ghana fails to qualify for the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil for a third consecutive time.

Ghana has been drawn against Egypt in the play-off round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil which many football pundits believe that it will be difficult task for Ghana to qualify. But the former football administrator believes the Black Stars are favorites to beat the Pharaohs of Egypt.

“I will be very much surprise if Ghana fail to conquer the Egyptians for one of the world cup slot because I don’t consider them as team that can kick Ghana out at this crucial moment,” he told Asempa Sports.

He said: “Yes, they have been Africa champions on seven occasions and the fact that they have gone for an American coach in the person of Bob Bradley, means they know what they’re doing, but I don’t see Egypt as a team that can eliminate our Black Stars. I think it is the duty of Coach James Kwesi Appiah to make use of his boys and qualify Ghana for the world cup but if he fails then he has failed the whole nation.

“Here we have a coach who for one’s he has gotten the best players who play in top leagues outside the country and how to blend them and give the nation a winsome team is his duty and if he can’t do that then am afraid he is not fit to be there as the Black Stars coach.

“He has very excellent defenders, midfielders as well as strikers, but how he will deploy his tactics will be a major factor against the Egyptians, he added.

The Black Stars will play home in their first leg of the two-leg tie on the weekend of 11-15 October, with the return match set for 15-19 November.