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Out for revenge Ghana hosts South Africa in Nations Cup rematch
Posted: Friday February 04, 2000 04:15 PM
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) -- Maybe Ghana finally will heal a four-year-old wound. With Nigeria having withdrawn, and with Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah, two of Africa's all-time greats, leading the way, the Black Stars were supremely confident of being crowned African Cup champion in 1996. But the bid for their first title since 1982 was derailed by South Africa, which won a classic semifinal 2-0 on its way to winning the cup on home soil. Sunday's clash with the Bafana Bafana in the central Ghanaian city of Kumasi promises to be the most evenly matched quarterfinal at the African Nations Cup. In Sunday's other quarterfinal, Cameroon plays Algeria in Accra. On Monday, Nigeria hosts Senegal in Lagos, and defending champion Egypt takes on Tuniia in Kano. Co-host Ghana started as one of the tournament favorites but is lucky to be still in contention. The Black Stars were outclassed by Cameroon and Ivory Coast but scraped through Group A on goal difference. After the 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast, coach Giuseppe Dossena apologized to the nation for his team's poor performance. "It was the worst performance since I came, and if any player is tired they can pack their bags and go," the Italian said. The squad remains intact and Bayern Munich defender Samuel Kuffour believes the fans' anxieties are misplaced. "We don't play for the gallery. We play for the team," Kuffour said. "We played badly but I am sure we will get to the final."
Kuffour had to be removed from the Ivory Coast match because of stomach problems but declared himself fit to face South Africa. Unlike Ghana, South Africa breezed through its group matches, carried by tournament-leading scorer Shaun Bartlett's four goals in three games. After crushing Morocco on Thursday, co-host Nigeria is the overwhelming favorite to beat surprise quarterfinalist Senegal, whose best African Cup performance is fourth place in 1990. But The Lions have proved to be one of the most entertaining sides in the competition and have supreme confidence in veteran coach Peter Schnittger. "With Peter to the death," the players sang after clinching their place in the quarterfinals with a 2-2 draw against Zambia. "Only his work has allowed us to achieve all this," said midfielder Ousane Diop. Captain Sunday Oliseh, who has a bout of malaria, is doubtful for Nigeria, but with Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu in inspirational form, the Super Eagles should have edge in scoring power. Likewise, Cameroon is favored to eliminate Algeria, whose ambitions never stretched beyond reaching the quarterfinals. Unlucky to claim a draw its opening match against Ghana, the Indomitable Lions looked unstoppable in a 3-0 hammering of the Ivory Coast. The Ivorians poor showing earned them two days of detention at a military base in the Ivory Coast and a lecture from their nation's military leader. "Our standard has been high since the first minute of the first match," Cameroon's French coach Pierre Lechantre said. Few expected Egypt to retain its African title, but the Pharaohs are the only team to win all three of its first-round matches are will be heavily favored against Tunisia, a clash between two of North Africa's fur surviving nations. Like Egypt, Tunisia relies on a well-organized defense, but, with Hossam Hassan in clinical form, the defending champion has the game's potential matchwinner.
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