Ghana play Angola on Wednesday

By MICHAEL ADDO LARBI

Accra (Greater Accra) 22 Feb ?99

Ghana's Black Satellites, narrow 1-0 winners over their Malian counterparts in the opening match yesterday, take the field again, this time against Angola in a Group A second round match on Wednesday, February 24 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It is a must that the Satellites should beat these Angolans, who lost their match 0-1 against Cameroon yesterday, to brighten their chances of getting to the semi-finals. Admittedly, the Satellites did not impress in the opening match and the sooner they approach their game with all seriousness the better.

Coach Dossena Guissepe even said in his post-match conference that, "Perhaps we had too much respect for the Malians". The Angolans are no pushovers, and having tasted their first defeat and are without a point, makes them a side to watch carefully.

With this at the back of their mind, the Angolans will try to prevent a second defeat and will therefore fight tooth and nail to get at least a point in Wednesday's match to set the tone for a fierce final group A match on Saturday. Players like Flavio Da Silva, Alberto Augusto and Agost Morias Sebastio could give the Satellites some anxious moments if an eye is not kept on them.

The Satellites are likely to miss slippery right winger Owusu Afriyie. His fitness after the injury he sustained in Sunday's match is yet to be ascertained. "By Tuesday, if he is fit then, he would be in the starting line up", said Dr Martin Engmann, the team doctor.

Luckily, two other Satellites' players, Baffour Gyan and Issah Rahman, who sustained ankle injuries, are said to be fit to play. Anyway let the Angolans play their best game on Wednesday, they cannot beat the Satellites. The Ghana/Angola match will be preceded by the third group A match between Cameroon and Mali which also promises to be another tough encounter.

While the Cameroonians would want to maintain their position on top of group A and move to the semi-finals, the Malians, who have no point, will also fight all odds to claim the three points at stake to brighten their chances of moving to the next stage of the competition.