Black Stars Arrive in Bamako, Confident

Super Eagles' quarter-final opponents, Black Stars of Ghana arrived Bamako from Segou where the team has been prosecuting its preliminary matches late on Wednesday night, boasting.

The 22-man team checked into Hotel de L'Amitie (Eagles' camp) and by early morning left for a feel of March 26 Stadium turf -- the venue of next Sunday's clash that will determine which team stays or goes home.

Radiating their usual infectious confidence which propelled them to secure a draw against star studded Nigerian team in a World Cup qualifier at Accra, several of the players boasted that Nigeria will fall this time around as they alighted from their bus from training.

Coach Osam Doudu would, however, not be drawn into such exuberant rhetorics as he declined interviews while he made his way back to their rooms. "We have not rested please. We are still trying to settle down here," he pleaded with hordes of Journalists who swooped on him.

Black Stars" petit striker, Ishmael Addo who was a torn in the flesh of Taribo West during the encounter in Accra, however, spared a moment to boast that there will be no hiding place for Nigeria this time.

"We know Nigeria very well. We have met several times. The loss at Port-Harcourt is now in the past. We won't lose again, not in this tournament and not to Nigeria. I am sure of that, Addo who has been snatched up by Bastille of France boasted.

He said they derive their confidence from the unity that has pervaded the camp since their defender, Samuel Ossei Kuffour was sent packing from the team for indiscipline.

"We were first shocked over the development, we have now gotten over it. We have stabilised with the victory over Burkina Faso yesterday (Wednesday)," he added declining to speak further on Kuffour issue.

He would also not be deterred by the fact that they could not score a single goal in two matches in this tournament before Wednesday's victory. "You just wait and see whether we will score on Sunday or not," he said.