Ghana target Cup last-eight berth, Egypt chase first win

PORT- GENTIL, Gabon: Ghana can secure a place in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a group game to spare if they beat Mali in Group D in Port-Gentil on Saturday.

Avram Grant’s side, beaten on penalties by the Ivory Coast in the 2015 final, set themselves up nicely in this year’s tournament by edging out Uganda 1- 0 courtesy of an Andre Ayew spot- kick in their opening match on Tuesday.

It was not a vintage performance from the Black Stars but, on a terrible playing surface, Grant is only interested in winning matches for now, regardless of the manner in which they do it.

“In this tournament at the start

FIXTURES

* Malaysian time

Sunday, Jan 22

Ghana vs Mali - 12am Egypt vs Uganda - 3am it’s important to take the points and then you have to come to your best at the right time,” said the Israeli former Chelsea coach.

“In the last tournament we played very good against Senegal in the first game and we lost, even if at the end of the day we got to the final, so we just wanted to take the three points.

“Of course we can play better but this is a tournament and every game will be different.”

Not everything is rosy in the Ghana camp, however. Abdul Rahman Baba’s tournament appears to be over after he suffered anterior cruciate knee ligament damage in the first half against Uganda.

The left- back, who currently plays for Schalke on loan from Chelsea, has now been flown back to Germany to undergo further tests and possibly surgery.

Meanwhile, Harrison Afful is struggling with what could be malaria, and Ghana also went to the wrong training ground on Thursday.

When they eventually turned up at the right venue their players were forced to sit on the team bus for an hour because Uganda were still using the pitch.

Mali showed that they are a team to be taken seriously when they drew 0- 0 with Egypt in their first outing. Alain Giresse’s side will now hope to build on that with some fans no doubt hoping to see more of 20-year-old Yves Bissouma after the Lille midfielder starred from the bench against Egypt.

“He brought his freshness to the game but let’s not forget that it is easier for him to come off the bench in games because of his age,” warned Giresse.

Egypt disappointed in their first appearance at the Cup of Nations after a seven-year absence, with star man Mohamed Salah being substituted in the second half following a poor display.

The re c or d s eve n - t ime champions also lost goalkeeper Ahmed El Shennawy to injury, and with Sherif Ekramy also in the treatment room suddenly coach Hector Cuper has a bit of a crisis.

Essam El Hadary, who came off the bench against Mali to become the oldest player ever at the tournament at the age of 44, will now start against Uganda.

“Our responsibility has not changed too much. We still know that we need to win our next game to stay in the competition,” admitted Cuper. — AFP