Ahinful: Ghana can still make 2014 World Cup

Former national team striker, Augustine Ahinful is preaching patience and belief to despairing Black Stars fans after the national team’s chances of qualifying for the next World Cup was thrown into danger following Zambia’s gain of points from a game they previously lost to Sudan.

FIFA have ruled that Zambia are awarded a 3-0 victory for the June 2 game they lost 0-2 in Sudan because the Sudanese fielded Saif Ali who was ineligible because he should have been serving suspension for a red card received in their previous competitive game against none other than Zambia at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

FIFA ruled “lost by forfeit by Sudan” whilst also hitting the Sudanese with a US$6,430 fine. It means that Zambia, who already beat the Black Stars, now have maximum 6 points to Ghana’s 3 and also have the easier set of matches ahead, at least on paper. In fact, the Black Stars need to win all matches to ensure Zambia do not win the group before the match day 6 qualifier in Accra.

But Ahinful believes this is not the time to panic.

“It doesn’t matter that Zambia have been given this big advantage. We should not worry, it’s still football and anything can happen. We should not think that Zambia have got three points because they can also lose on the way and they still have to come to Ghana,” Ahinful said in a chat.

The 1993 U-20 World Cup star added: “We have the same chance as we did earlier on. What we have to do is win our matches and win well and stop thinking that Zambia now have an advantage. If we do that, we’ll only put pressure on ourselves.”Credit: Prince Dornu-Leiku /