Soccer News of Tuesday, 31 August 2004

Source: GNA

Stars trickle in for Cape Verde match

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - Ghana's campaign in the World Cup qualifying series has received an array of hope following the arrival of some of the foreign based players invited by head coach, Mariano Barreto for the World Cup Group Two qualifying match against Cape Verde Islands.

The Black Stars who are placed second in their group are expected to resume their campaign with a massive home win against Cape Verde at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday, September 5.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports reveals that out of the 13 foreign-based players invited, five have so far arrived in the country as at the close of Monday and have reported for camping.

The five includes Germany based defender, Samuel Osei-Kuffour of Bayern Munich and striker Ibrahim Tanko of Frieburg.

The rest are Mark Edusei and Udinese teenage striker Asamoah Mensah Gyan as well as striker Kwadjo Poku joining the team from the camp of FC Mitdjyland, Denmark.

Other invited players yet to arrive are Stephen Appiah, Moses Sekyi John Mensah, Michael Essien, Emmanuel Pappoe, Kofi Amponsah, Baffour Gyan and Sammy Adjei.

According to the information, the rest of the players are expected in town latest by Thursday, September 2.

Coach Barreto who arrived from Portugal last weekend after the disappointing show of the National Under-23 team, the Black Meteors in Athens, Greece is also reported to have plunged into serious training with the players in camp.

The Stars will seek to pluck the three maximum points in the game in order to enhance their chances of making the first ever-historic appearance at the World Cup.