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So near and yet so far for host nation Ghana. The Black Stars have won four games out of four on home soil in this magnificent Africa Cup of Nations, and now stand on the brink of a place in the final.

All that remains between Claude LeRoy's team and a dream final against holders Egypt or favourites Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday are his two-time former charges, Cameroon.

LeRoy led the Indomitable Lions to Cup of Nations glory in Morocco in 1988 and was also their coach at France 1998, introducing a young Samuel Eto'o to the world stage. LeRoy, who turned 60 on Wednesday, may have inside knowledge of Cameroonian soccer, but Otto Pfister, their present coach, was in charge of Ghana when they reached the Cup of Nations final in 1992.

"I will tactically paralyse the Black Stars in Thursday's match," Pfister has boasted, and, from a neutral perspective, there has to be something of a worry that the two coaches might cancel each other out on Thursday night.

Pfister, 70, is claiming to have never prepared harder for a match in his life, while LeRoy will surely never get a better chance to win a second African title, and will not want to pass this opportunity up cheaply.

A cagey affair could be on the cards, then, but Cameroon have scored in excess of three per game so far, and certainly have goals in their team. Nations Cup record scorer Eto'o, as well as the likes of Job, Mbia and freekick specialist Geremi, have all contributed, meaning strikers Patrick Mboma and Achille Webo haven't been missed thus far.

Ghana are having to patch up their defence, with captain John Mensah suspended following his professional foul against Nigeria. LeRoy has to make a decision between recalling Illiasu Shilla or swapping Michael Essien back into central defence. John Pantsil is also clinging on to his right-back slot by the skin of his teeth.

If Essien does start alongside Eric Addo in defence, the Black Stars will inevitably lose some of their drive in the engine room, but Ghana are strong in midfield and LeRoy has several midfielders staking their claim to start.

Asamoah Gyan had another mixed game against Nigeria but match-winner Junior Agogo's confidence is rocketing, and the Nottingham Forest man should keep Rigobert Song and Andre Bikey occupied on his own.

TEAM NEWS

Ghana: Claude LeRoy's biggest call comes over how to compensate for the suspended John Mensah in defence. Anthony Annan will be sweating on his place in midfield also after an indisciplined performance against Nigeria. Forgotten man Haminu Draman impressed off the bench whilst Laryea Kingson is also pressing to reclaim his place.

Cameroon: Cameroon have no new injury worries to contend with.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cameroon - Stephane Mbia: 21-year-old Mbia may have been relatively unknown prior to the CAN, but a transfer to one of Europe's top clubs must surely be on the cards after such an assured showing in Ghana. Mbia demands the ball from his more senior team mates and invariably uses it to great effect.

Ghana - Richard Kingson: The Birmingham City reserve has rarely strung a series of starts together for any of the clubs he's figured for in Europe over the last three years, but is always one of the first names on Claude LeRoy's teamsheet. On Thursday we could learn just how good the Ghana number one really is - and he has never let the Black Stars down before - as he will be faced with the unfortunate combination of a makeshift defence and one Samuel Eto'o.

PREDICTION

Cameroon may be slightly tired after their extra-time exertions against Tunisia on Monday but they may be pushed for a further 120 minutes in this one too. There is little to pick between these two skilled and powerful West African giants and their mutual respect for one another could well ensure a typically tense and cautious semi-final stalemate. As for penalties...

Ghana 1 - 1 Cameroon


Source:goal.com