Ghana’s final onslaught on Egypt

This was the line-up that beat Egypt 6-1in Kumasi

The first leg result in Kumasi at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium was an amazing 6-1 drubbing of the seven-time African Cup of Nations Champions, Egypt. No one, absolutely no one, imagined that the Black Stars led by Coach Kwasi Appiah were going to whitewash the Pharaohs of Egypt that afternoon. The day however had its own story to tell. At the end of the game, Ghana humiliated Egypt.

The return leg is on today. Football pundits have been reminding us how the game follows no logic and how what one least expects could happen. But I say with certainty that, as the Black Stars of Ghana face the Pharaohs of Egypt later today in the 2014 FIFA World Cup match (the last of the qualifying series), no amount of football’s illogicalities can aid the Egyptians to overturn the 6-1 result recorded in Kumasi.

There will be more misery for the Egyptians today

Reading stories on the Black Stars’ preparation in Turkey and all that have taken place concerning the upcoming match, I share the statement by a serial caller that, Egypt cannot beat Ghana for the ticket to Brazil unless perhaps the world would once again witness the miraculous deed which saw God setting the Red Sea apart for the Israelites to pass through on dry land while being pursued by their enemies.

Call it Biblical stories brought into football. That is the extent fans have taken the pre-match talk. That should send a message to the Black Stars that we are expecting nothing apart from a result that would see Ghana at next year’s biggest football fiesta in Brazil. We are all waiting to be in Brazil and it will be Ghana’s third successive World Cup appearance.

It is refreshing to note that when the call was made in 2006, Germany; Ghana was there. Again in 2010, South Africa; the first World Cup to be held on African soil, Ghana was present. We lifted the African flag high by being the only African country to get to the quarter-final stage of that competition. We cannot miss the boat this time. From the score line in Kumasi, it is abundantly clear that Black Stars of Ghana have the advantage. It is also worth noting that, when the Stars eventually qualify, Coach Kwasi Appiah would have made history by being the first local coach to send Ghana to the World Cup.

Ghanaian fans like this one will be happy to see Ghana in Brazil 

Thus the former Kotoko player is on the brink of making history and for that reason, he should not fail. It is good and important that Ghanaians have confidence in Kwasi Appiah and his players. Everybody has been rallying behind them since the qualifying series kicked-off. I have even seen non-football enthusiasts, by virtue of the Black Stars 6-1 result, being compelled to say a prayer for the team.

Therefore the strong conviction is that Ghana will secure the ticket to the largest South American country, Brazil for the biggest football fiesta. The serious pre-match talk, to a reasonable extent, has been dominated by security concerns given the political situation in the North African country. Realizing the power of football; I mean how football can foster peace and unity among warring factions in even the bloodiest of civil or political unrest, I would have wished that the Pharaohs were playing another country, not Ghana.

Victory as displayed on the fan's chest will be Ghana's

In that case, I would have said a prayer for the Egyptians to grab the 2014 World Cup ticket to see how football can turn things around for them. On a more serious note, it is my fervent prayer that the political situation in Egypt changes and changes for good. When the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports started talking about the need for the security arrangements made by FIFA and Egyptian authorities to be made clearer, some people didn’t understand.

Others even thought it was unnecessary. On the evidence of the moves that have been made regarding the security and safety of our players and officials before, during and after the match, I believe it was important that Ghana asked questions and had those questions properly answered. FIFA officials meeting Ghanaian officials in Lome; a Ghanaian delegation also visiting Egypt on Thursday to acquaint themselves with security arrangements prior to the Black Stars’ arrival was indeed imperative. Now, as Ghanaians, all we are looking forward to is an exciting match. At the end of the day Ghana must grab the World Cup ticket to Brazil 2014.