No room for error as Stars go into crucial Congo double header

The Black Stars trail Egypt by five points and on Friday and next Tuesday in 2018 world cup qualifiers face defining games in Kumasi and Brazzaville. If the Stars win those two games, they can at least stay in tune with Egypt.

Drop points and Egypt could stretch their advantage even further and leave Ghana’s hopes of a fourth straight world cup in ruins very early.

Jonathan Mensah, a veteran of Ghana’s last two world cup campaigns, says it’s been an unusual campaign for the team and is hoping they can right a few wrongs this week. Coach Kwesi Appiah will want to be as optimistic too.

“When it comes to football, for me there is nothing like it is over. “The most important thing is make sure you win your games and leave the rest to God.

That is what I believe. Anything can happen along the line since we have four matches to play. So why give up now?” It is a question that will be playing on the minds of players as they head out onto the pitch to face a Congolese side that has a reputation of being very resilient in away games.

Appiah has assembled a team heavy on experience in these situations but significant on new comers too. He can also count on the likes of Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Mensah and John Boy,e who were central in Ghana’s march to the 2014 World Cup when most people thought the die was cast. They did that with crucial victories in Kumasi over Zambia and Egypt.

Now Appiah will hope his class of 2017 players can produce their own magic and at least keep the possibility of a small miracle alive.