The west Africans are almost booking their flight to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, but will need to increase their goal tally to consolidate the current lead. Ghana top Group I with 10 points, tie with Sudan, but with a better goal difference.
A win against the King’s Shield is a must for the four-time African champions who demolished the Swazis in their own backyard with a 3-0 victory last September. The Black Stars are the favourites for this penultimate qualifying fixture, having won three of their four matches, along with a goalless draw against Sudan.
The World Cup quarter-finalists have conceded only a single goal and scored nine. The odds favour them and judging from their recent outings, they will not make things easy for their opponents – knowing that they will need just a draw to qualify for the continental showpiece in Sudan should they win this game.
Fighting for pride
The journey to the 28th edition of the Nations Cup for the Sihlangu Semnikati has virtually come to an end. They have not won any of their qualifying games up to this stage. The Swazis have conceded 11 goals, scored only two in four fixtures and sit at the bottom of the group with no points to claim.
It will take a great deal of effort for them to earn a point away in Ghana, considering the battle against the second best side on the continent. Their away track record has been dismal since the start of this campaign. They first lost to Congo in a 3-1 defeat in Brazzaville followed by another three without reply in Sudan.
A win over Ghana would bring back their lost pride and would certainly be a victory to celebrate considering the wide gap between themselves and the west Africans on the Fifa rankings.
TEAM NEWS
Ghana
Captain John Mensah has been ruled out of the game due to injury. Coach Goran Stevanovic is expected to start goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey of Stromgodest in between the posts, as well as give Bristol City’s Albert Adomah his debut. Striker Asamoah Gyan is back having served suspension for receiving red in their game against Sudan in October.
Probable Line-up:
Adam Kwarasey; John Paintsil, Jonathan Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Samuel Inkoom; Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Anthony Annan, Sulley Muntari, Derek Boateng; Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan
Swaziland
The team arrived safely in Ghana and is now training for Friday’s game from the PRESEC school grounds. No injury worries have hit their camp.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Sibusiso Mabuza (Buffaloes),Sandile Ginindza (Wanderers)
Defenders: Sifiso Nkambule (Leopard), Sabelo Gamedze (Highlanders), Sizwe Khumalo (Manzini Sundowns), Siboniso Malambe (Leopard), Jerome Ntshalintshali (Manzini Sundowns), Sihawu Dlamini (Leopard), Siyabonga Mdluli (Green Mamba), Ntobeko Mthimkhulu (Hellenic)
Midfielders: Nkosingiphile Tsabedze(Buffaloes), Lwazi Maziya (Wanderers), Celucolo Mmema (Manzini Sundowns), Tony Tsabedze(unattached), Dennis Masina (Orlando Pirates), Manqoba Kunene (Young Buffaloes)
Strikers: Mzwandile Ndzimandze (University of Pretoria), Zweli Nxumalo (Umbelebele), Mbuso Gina (Mhlambanyatsi Rovers), Mfanafuthi Bhembe (Mbabane Swallows), Sidumo Shongwe (Wanderers), Phinda Nkonyane (Leopard)
PREDICTION
The Ghanaians are the favourites for this game, taking into consideration their previous performances and character. The Swazis are honouring the match as a mere formality in terms of qualification, and know that they have nothing to lose.
Ghana 4-0 Swaziland
