[size=14pt]Ghana football team in Cairo for Egypt World Cup playoff[/size]

Ahram Online, Monday 18 Nov 2013

The Black Stars land at Cairo Airport early morning for the anticipated World Cup playoff against Egypt Tuesday


The Ghanaian national team arrived in Cairo early on Monday for the anticipated second leg of the Africa World Cup playoff against Egypt at the Air Defence Stadium Tuesday, 18:00 CLT (GMT+2).

The Black Stars – who held a training camp in Turkey amid their preparation for the decider – are more comfortable than the Pharaohs, having won 6-1 in Kumasi last month.

In addition to the players and the technical staff, the Ghanaian delegation combines 30 officials and 600 fans to support their national team.

The delegation arrived at 3am – an hour and a half after their scheduled time – and was received by the Ghanaian ambassador, who led their welcome reception at Cairo International Airport.

"I am so happy with the security at Cairo Airport and I thank the Egyptian authorities for finalising the procedures quickly," Ambassador Said Sinare told the press at the airport.

Ghana had last month requested the FIFA relocate the game to a neutral venue, citing the North African country's critical security and political situation. Last week, however, the Ghanaians' worries gave way to expressed satisfaction over security measures in Egypt.

[size=14pt]Egypt - Ghana Preview: Essien & Co. take emphatic lead to Cairo[/size]

A 6-1 thrashing in the first leg means Kwesi Appiah's men have all but qualified for the World Cup finals but Bob Bradley's side will be eager to restore some pride


By Dom Farrell

Only a minor miracle will prevent Ghana from booking their place at the 2014 World Cup when they meet Egypt on Tuesday.

Progress to the finals in Brazil appears to be a mere formality for Kwesi Appiah's men, who made light of a tie billed as the tightest of Africa's concluding qualifying phase with an emphatic 6-1 win on home soil last month over a side who had not dropped a point in the group stage.



Asamoah Gyan set the ball rolling with a fourth-minute strike in Kumasi and went on to net a double – once again confounding Egypt coach Bob Bradley, whose USA team he dumped out of the 2010 World Cup.

Bradley has kept faith with almost the same squad that were subjected to humiliation last time out, although Al Ahly's Abdallah El-Said has made way for Zamalek's Ahmed Eid and Sherif Abdel-Fadil gets the nod over Hull City's Ahmed Elmohamady.

Only a truly improbable turn of events will give Egypt any hope of turning the tie around, and the focus in the build-up to the match has been upon safety fears.

Ghana's FA this week declared themselves satisfied with the security arrangements made by their Egyptian counterparts, having previously asked for the match to be moved away from Cairo.

Their statement came after Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien underlined the issues himself and his team-mates have with playing in the Egyptian capital, in the wake of continued unrest in the country.

"I am not afraid or scared of the Egypt team," Essien said. "But I am frightened to play in Egypt because of the on-going fights over there.

"We have nothing to do about that because we are told to play in Egypt and we will do just that."

In ominous news for Egypt, Ghana appear to be stronger on paper than they were first time around, with star man Kevin-Prince Boateng back in contention following a knee injury.

And, despite the distractions, assistant boss Maxwell Konadu insists that the visitors' minds are fully on the job.

"So far, so good in camp," he said. "The atmosphere is very good and everybody is in a good frame of mind.

"Initially we were not sure it was too good (playing in Cairo) but after a few meetings and advice, we think where we are going to play the match is very secured and removed from the trouble spots."

CFCfan: 'Like' this post if you think Ghana will demolish Egypt/qualify for the world cup.

naptu2:

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/124162/egypt-vs-ghana/preview

CFCfan: 'Like' this post if you think Ghana will demolish Egypt/qualify for the world cup.

sCun: This match has no business on Nairaland front page. Why weren't Cameroon and Ivory Coast's matches here?

chriskwaku: Ghana and our neighbours Burkina faso would beat the north africans today. I want to see Bance at the world cup mehn

careytommy: Not ruling out an egypt possibility.
may the best side win

sCun: This match has no business on Nairaland front page. Why weren't Cameroon and Ivory Coast's matches here?

360command:

Seriously, I also want the Stallions to make it through.. I believe they have what it takes , considering their performace during the AFCON and matches after .

gcfr.com:
Viewing this topic: NosoChic, yawkusi, blackmiamy,
chriskwaku and 13 guest(s)
This poo shouldn't be on fp, nobdy gaf.

rigormortis: GAYNA 0 EGYPT 13

chriskwaku:

they have got some good players.I see 4 west african nations at the mundial

Akosbaba: if they do qualify,it will be 5 West African teams going to the world cup.

sCun: This match has no business on Nairaland front page. Why weren't Cameroon and Ivory Coast's matches here?

kennyonthrone: D name of dis game na 2 fulfil all righteousness season 2

Psychedelia: Who dey watch kwanu? What's the point?

Ghana don qualify be say Ghana don qualify... Unless Egypt scores 5 unreplied goals, which is preeeeetty unlikely.

I'll be watching Germany sodomizze England without Vaseline tonight instead.

Akosbaba: if they do qualify,it will be 5 West African teams going to the world cup.