GHANA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ghana and Mozambique train ahead of their World Cup 2010 qualifier game

Record ID: 860973

  • Title: GHANA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ghana and Mozambique train ahead of their World Cup 2010 qualifier game
  • Date: 8th October 2009
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ghana
  • City:
  • Country: Ghana
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5S101XOB2FOEZU6KMGTZ741MG
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  • Story Text: Ghana's Black stars and Mozambique's Black Mambas kicked off their training on Monday (October 7) ahead of this weekend's World Cup qualifiers in Ghana's capital.
    Ghana, set to play against Benin is the only African country so far to have qualified for both the 2010 World Cup in June, South Africa and the 2010 African Cup of Nations in January in Angola.
    But Ghana still has to play the last round of matches, and the players reiterated that they have to take the rest of the games seriously.
    "For me, every game I play I take it seriously. I still know that we still have a difficult game to play against Benin. I don't think that we've already qualified so we're just going there to play. We're going there to work hard and to do our best and to win the game," said midfielder Dereck Boateng.
    "I believe this is a good opportunity for all African countries who will be taking part in the world cup to try and get to the finals because since we are hosting it in Africa the first time, I believe all African countries will take this opportunity to try and win the world cup," added assistant coach Kwesi Appiah.
    This will be the first World Cup hosted on the continent, when the tournament kicks off in June 2010, in South Africa.
    On the same training grounds in Accra, Mozambique geared up, as they prepared for their World Cup Group B qualifier against Nigeria's Super Eagles in Abuja.
    Black Mambas captain, Emmanuel Bucuane, said his team is ready but that the game will be challenging -- a challenge that they are ready for.
    We know that it's going to be very difficult. You know, Nigeria is desperate to go to the World Cup and we are also trying to get to the African, so it gonna be a tough match. We know, we know that but, I guest we 're prepared, preparing ourselves and we gonna try our best to get a positive results," said Bucuane in an interview with Reuters.
    Mozambique are currently placed third in Group B, while in the same group Tunisia are first, followed by Nigeria. Kenya is last in that same group.
    "In the beginning already we told the public that to go to the world cup, that's a dream and perhaps to go to the African cup of Nations that's a reality. Well, now we are four matches ahead, and the African Cup of Nations can be a reality for Mozambique," said Mozambique coach, Mark Noyes.
    At their last encounter in March, Nigeria held the Black Mambas to a goal-less draw.
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