Soccer News of Monday, 4 February 2008

Source: GNA

Muntari ready to 'fly'

Accra, Feb 4, GNA - Ghana's creative midfielder, Sulley Ali Muntari would 'fly' if the Black Stars emerge champions of Africa on Sunday, February 10 in Accra.

"It's too early to say we will win the Cup because we still have the semis to play on Thursday but if we win the competition, I will fly." The Portsmouth player said to lift the trophy meant being ready for every team.

"We are not afraid of any opposition and we are ready for all. "We are no longer at the group stage and what it means is to win every game to progress. Beating Nigeria was very crucial because we needed to go on and so will the rest of the games be." Ghana is two games away from lifting the continental trophy for the fifth time.

Muntari, who said this at a media briefing in Accra on Monday, said he understood the yearnings of the expectant home crowd. "Our nation has the right to expect us to make them happy.

"They depend on us in that direction because we proved our capabilities and quality to them and the rest of the continent at the World Cup in Germany."

He debunked claims that beating Nigeria had given Ghanaians enough satisfaction considering the rivalry that existed between the two countries.

"It was very important for us to beat Nigeria because that was a step towards reaching the final and aiming at the trophy.

"We needed to beat Nigeria to get to the next stage and we did just that against a very tough opposition. "If beating them was enough, we will just have gone home right after that victory."