Black Stars face toughest test in Gabon

Four-time continental lords, the Black Stars
of Ghana face their toughest test yet in the joint World Cup/CAN
qualifiers campaign against the Azingo Nationals of Gabon in Libreville
in Group Five.

Despite
a 3-2 win over Lesotho last week, caretaker coach Sellas Tetteh has
come under a barrage of criticisms from the Ghanaian media and the
football populace, as doubts rages on his technical and tactical
abilities.

The Ghana Football Association has already declared
him ‘unripe’ for a full-time appointment but as he comes face to face
against his Gabonese colleague, Alain Giresse, a member of the famous
France midfield quartet; which included Michel Platini (now UEFA
President), Jean Tigana and Luiz Hernandez, Tetteh’s quest has been
boosted by the return of Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari, who
sat out of the Lesotho game due to a toe injury that required surgery.

Lesotho
will play their second game at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein
against the Greens of Libya in the other Group Five clash.

Former
African Champions, Cote d’Ivoire will be on an image redemption mission
as they face the Bostwana this weekend in a day three clash of the 2010
World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Elephants,
surprisingly held by Madagascar to a goalless draw last week, face
another difficult away encounter against the “Zebras”, who are yet to
suffer a loss in the campaign.

The Zebras share the top spot of
Group Seven with the Elephants on four points apiece, but a 2-1 win
over Mozambique in Maputo means the Elephants will be in for another
tough battle.

The absence of key players including captain
Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Aruna Dindane, Kader Keita, Bakary Kone and
Yao Kouassi Gervais has left the 1992 African Champions with an almost
dead attack, with only a goal to their credit so far.

Madagascar will host Mozambique in the other Group Seven clash in Antananarivo.

In
Group One, four-time African champions, Cameroon look set to maintain
their hundred percent record against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam while
Mauritius and Cape Verde battle out in a match of equals at Curepipe.

After
an impressive outing at the last African Cup of Nations in Ghana early
this year, the Syli Nationale of Guinea has slumped to an unimaginable
low with just a point to prove so far from two games.

After 0-2
loss to the Harambees of Kenya last week, the Syli’s face the Brave
Warriors of Namibia in Windhoek while the Harambee go in search of
their second successive home win against the Warriors of Zimbabwe, both
in Group Two.

Group Three leaders, Angola face a tricky away
duel in Kampala as guests of the Cranes of Uganda, who are yet to come
to terms after 4-1 whitewashing by the Squirrels of Benin last week.

Uganda
coach, Laszlo Csaba has advised his players to put the loss in Cotonou
behind and forge ahead while calling for support from the followers of
the team.

“We should stand by them as they recover from that
shock defeat. We have to win against Angola to redeem of chances of
progressing to the next round,” said the Hungarian born trainer.

In Niamey, Niger will be seeking for their first point of the campaign as they welcome Benin in the other Group Three clash.

In
Group Four, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be away at Malabo as
guests of Equatorial Guinea while World Cup hosts, South Africa face
Sierra Leone in Freetown.

In Monrovia, Group Six leaders
Senegal will play as guests of Liberia’s Leone Stars in the top most
attraction while the Desert Foxes of Algeria move west to play the
Scorpions of Gambia in Banjul.

Elsewhere in Kigali, the Amavubi
Stars of Rwanda will have their dream of progressing to the next round
put to test as they face the Atlas Lions of Morocco in a Group Eight
clash while Mauritania and Ethiopia sort things out in Nouakchott.
Both teams have no points from two games so far.

Group Nine will see the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia battling Burundi in Bujumbura while Seychelles face Burkina Faso in Victoria.

The
Sudanese city of Omdurman will set the stage for a heated encounter
between the Desert Hawks and the Eagles of Mali in Group Ten while
Congo is favoured to ride high past Chad at the latter’s backyard.

The
Chipolopolo of Zambia will travel to Mbabane as guests of their
Swaziland counterparts in a dicey Group 11 clash the former needs a
convincing result to stay in contention for the group’s solitary spot.

The
Chipolopolos who lost by a lone goal to the Hawks of Togo in their
first match have had their plight further worsened as doubts soar over
the unavailability of striker Collins Mbesuma.

The burly striker
has not reported to camp after Togo duel in Accra and indications are
rife that he may not make the team as attempts to reach him has been
fruitless.

Reigning African Champions, Egypt will be away at
Blantyre as guests of Malawi while Djibouti opens the account of the
day three qualifiers against DR Congo on Friday.