Two teams coming off frustrating starts in FIFA World Cup qualifying are approaching the third games in their respective campaigns with the utmost urgency as the Black Stars of Ghana and Zimbabwe’s Warriors look to get back on the front foot. Despite struggling to find the net with only one goal through two games, Ghana are still only a point behind Group G leaders South Africa and a win would thrust them right back into contention. The situation is a bit more grim for the visitors as Zimbabwe need to obtain at least a point on the road to still consider themselves contenders. Saturday’s match will be an event both teams may look back upon as the moment when qualification hopes were reignited or extinguished.
Serbian gaffer Milovan Rajevac is back as the Black Stars manager, and Ghanaian fans are hoping he can lead them back to the glory days of the 2010 World Cup side he led to the quarterfinals. The coach called upon Ghanaians to rally behind their side despite the recent struggles and engage in full support of the team to help them back into contention for qualifying. He also described the team situation and the complications of selecting a side, stating that the Black Stars lineup on Saturday will need to have a combination of the young explosive talent seen so far as well as veteran leadership to help guide the team along. André Ayew stated that training has gone well and the team are aiming to pick six points off the Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwe fans are optimistic going forward after the team rid themselves of highly disliked manager Zdravko Logarusic and his tactics that were derided as overly defensive and unimaginative. Native son Norman Mapeza is in as the coach and has brought positive hope to the team, stating that training has been going well even as the technical staff hit out at Ghanaian football authorities for providing a poor quality training pitch. Foreign-based defenders such as Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan Athletic), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle) and Bournemouth Player of the Month Jordan Zemura will add plenty of quality to a Zimbabwean defense that is already well known for its attacking talent. Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona are available to add class to the attack while Lyon striker Tino Kadewere misses out due to lack of fitness.
Plenty of news links below are available to view for more details on both sides.
