The pitch is set, the atmosphere is charged but poisoned with all manner of tactics to eliminate each other in order to qualify for Brazil 2014.
After Ghana’s maiden appearance in Germany 2006 World Cup where the team got to the 1/16th stage of the competition, they went further to the quarter finals in South Africa 2010. It therefore implies that the team could even go beyond the semis if the dream of qualification becomes a reality.
6th September, 2013 was quite a happy day for some Ghanaians after the Black Stars of Ghana beat their counterparts from Zambia (Copper Bullet) 2-1 in the final group game of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers which was full of tension and nervy moments. Ghana being one of the 10 countries to qualify from their group had to be paired in order to the get five final teams which will represent Africa in Brazil.
Fortunately or unfortunately, on 16th September, the Black Stars of Ghana were pitched against the Pharaohs of Egypt for the play-offs to get worthy representatives for Africa in next year’s Mundial. Ghana host the first leg on October 15 before visiting the North Africans on the weekend of November 15-19 for the second leg.
The last competitive meeting between the two saw Egypt beating Ghana 1-0 to lift their seventh trophy on the continent, making them a very fearsome side.
This pairing caused a sudden stir in Ghana with those with faint hearts ready to ‘throw in the towel’ as they believe it was all over for the Stars in their quest for a third consecutive appearance at the World event. On the other hand, it also brought a different ‘can do spirit’ in the thinking among soccer or football-loving fans and pundits alike in Ghana. This dominated sports shows and commentaries.
It was however not surprising that the play-offs between Ghana and Egypt have been tagged as the ‘Final before the Finals’. Someone even proposed fasting and prayers for the Stars as they are going test hell before reaching Brazil.
Be it hell or not, the Black Stars of Ghana have been through the wilderness battling for survival before reaching the land of the Pharaohs. If the Stars were found in a group made up of Lesotho(Crocodiles), Sudan(Crocodiles) and Zambia ( Copper Bullet) and yet survived, I don’t know what else is needed to psych the players up for the final battle with the Egyptians.
It would interest one to know that Ghana and Egypt have a number of things in common and being put together as one family by Ghana’s first couple in 1957 thus the marriage between Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and a very pretty Egyptian lady, Fatiah Halen Ritzk who was studying Arabic in a university in Cairo at the time, there should be no hard feelings.
None understood why Nkrumah decided not to marry a Ghanaian, some thought it had some political undertone but he knew what awaits the two countries and Africa after the marriage.
After the overthrow of Nkrumah in 1966, Fathia lived in Egypt until her death in 2007. Whiles alive, she always wished to be buried in Ghana if she died. It was done as she wanted and was buried next to her husband, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in Accra.
Aside the marriage between Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Fathia Halen Riztk of Egypt in 1957, the two countries share a couple things in common....
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