Mali hope to consolidate their leadership of Group B today when they face Ghana, who coach Patrice Carteron described as the “Germany” of Africa.
Mali are top of the table courtesy of a 1-0 win over Niger on Sunday, while Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have a point each after a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Carteron said Ghana are an ever-present at the Cup of Nations and have a strong mentality, just like former World Cup and European champions Germany.
“Ghana are the ‘Germany’ of Africa. They are always up there at the Cup of Nations and, above all, they have a very good mentality, just like the Germans,” the former Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Etienne defender said. “We will, therefore, have to be prepared for a battle against such a team, but our win over Niger has boosted confidence.”
Last year, the teams clashed twice at the Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Ghana won the group game in Franceville 2-0 with second-half goals from Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew, but Mali avenged that defeat by beating the Black Stars by the same score to clinch third place in Malabo.
On Sunday, Mali struggled to break down a tight defense mounted by the Mena (Gazelles) of Niger and they needed a scrambled effort by skipper Seydou Keita to carry the day.
They have been boosted by the return of West Ham United forward Modibo Maiga, who missed the Niger match because of a thigh injury.
Maiga returns to combine with giant Girondins de Bordeaux striker Cheick Tidiane Diabate, who looked isolated up front for long periods against Niger.
Ghana are one of the tournament favorites, but need to get a result against Mali to keep their hopes of a fifth title alive.
Skipper Gyan said they would go into the west African derby with a winning mentality.
“We have to have a winning mentality because the more you win, the more you qualify,” said Gyan, who saw the Black Stars surrender a two-goal lead on Sunday. “Ghanaians should have confidence in this team because we will ensure we go past the group stage, to begin with.”
A likely change in the Ghana starting lineup would see more experienced centerback Isaac Vorsah coming in for Turkey-based Jerry Akaminko, who gave away a penalty in the opening match.
HSIEH ADVANCES: In the women’s doubles, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei was to play in the second round last night, but Taiwan’s Ray Ho exited in the men’s doubles It is more than 10 years since Grigor Dimitrov reached his sole Wimbledon semi-final and back then it still seemed a reasonable bet that the Bulgarian once dubbed “Baby Federer” would win a Grand Slam title. There were semi-final runs at the US Open and Australian Open after that, but it has never quite happened and despite him still being ranked No. 21, it most likely never will. Dimitrov, 34, remains one of the most stylish players on the circuit though, with his elegant single-handed backhand and smooth all-court game a rare reminder of how tennis was before the power merchants turned
INJURY TURMOIL: Despite stunning French Open champions Paolini and Errani to advance, Chan was forced to pull out after her partner’s tearful women’s singles defeat Last year’s mixed doubles champions Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Poland’s Jan Zielinski on Monday crashed out of the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, leaving the Taiwanese star focused on pursuing a fifth women’s doubles title in London, while a partner injury forced compatriot Chan Hao-ching to give up on her doubles campaign. Hsieh and Zielinksi, who last year also won the Australia Open title, narrowly lost their opening set 7-6 (9/7), before Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani stunned the former champions 6-3 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The Taiwanese-Polish duo had been dominant in the first two
Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund had taken three crazy turns during nine minutes of second-half stoppage time when Marcel Sabitzer chested the ball and sent a right-footed volley toward Thibaut Courtois’ post. Courtois leapt to his right, extended the long arm on his 2m frame and just managed to get his gloved fingertips on the ball, knocking it down. Courtois hit the ground as the ball bounded up. He looked skyward, planted his right hand to regain his balance, grabbed the ball with both hands on the second bounce and fell onto it with his chest. Sabitzer turned
TAIWANESE WIN: Chan Hao-ching and Wu Fang-hsien and their partners won their first-round matches in the women’s doubles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club Late-night finishes and five-set matches are becoming a habit for Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon this year. On Wednesday, he wrapped up his win over Gabriel Diallo before the match was suspended — making sure the fifth-seeded American would not have to come back on court for a fourth straight day. Fritz overcame a bloodied elbow to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 4-6, 6-3 on No. 1 Court a day after he finished off another five-set win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a match that was halted on Monday at about 10:15pm after Fritz forced a fifth set with Wimbledon’s 11pm curfew looming. He
RSS