South Africa relish prospect of hostile atmosphere

South Africa defender Mark Fish and his team mates are relishing the prospect of playing in front of a hostile capacity home crowd against co- hosts Ghana in Sunday's African Nations Cup quarter-final. "There's nothing better than to play against a full crowd that is against us," said the English-based defender on Friday.

"It's a big challenge and it will only serve to spur us on." A capacity 40,000 crowd is expected for the game, which will contrast with the low attendance that marked the opening round matches played in Kumasi.

"I hear the supporters in Kumasi are more passionate about the Ghanaian national team than those in Accra and we can't wait to take on the challenge," Fish said.

"It has happened to South African teams before in West Africa and we have come through with the win, so I don't see why not here." South Africa coach Trott Moloto said on Friday that there were injury doubts about midfielder Eric Tinkler, who injured an ankle against Algeria on Wednesday. But Fish, who is Tinkler's room mate at the tournament, said the Barnsley midfielder was confident of being fit for the quarter-final.

"If you look at the two previous Nations Cup tournaments, where we have reached the final, we have had to overcome really tough opposition in the quarter-final," said Fish. "This is no different even if Ghana haven't played well here. I wasn't impressed with the little that I saw of them but I have learnt that tournaments like this only really start at the quarter-final stage.

"It will be a tough game but we have enough experience to get through," added Fish, playing in his third successive Nations Cup finals. Sunday's meeting will be the fourth between Ghana and South Africa, with Bafana Bafana having won twice before and one game drawn.

South Africa go into the game with two wins and a draw at this Nations Cup finals, while Ghana just squeaked into the quarter-finals on goal difference with four points from their three opening round games.