Mubarak Wakaso is focused on Ghana's play but has explained the balancing act he will be faced with against a Mali side led by Seydou Keita in Thursday's clash at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana, on one point, come up against Group B leaders, Mali in the second group game of the campaign in Port Elizabeth with everything to play for.

The midfielder comes up against one of the continent's best, Keita, but is not overawed by the qualities of the Mali captain.

“You mention Keita (Seydou). I have played with him in Spain. He is a normal player for me even though he is good,” Wakaso said on Wednesday at a pre-match conference.

“For me the most important thing to do on the pitch is to do the job that my coach has given me to help the team win.”

For either side, qualification to the next round is the target but for Wakaso, though he wants his teammates to stick to their game, he is quick to remind them about the threat from the opposition.

“I don’t think about their side, although we are playing against them. They also have to think about us.

“What we need to do is to concentrate on our own even but we still need to think about them but we have to concentrate on us first.”