KP Boateng wishes Ghana goodluck ahead of Egypt clash

Ghana international, Kevin-Prince Boateng has wished the Blacks Stars of Ghana the best of luck, ahead of their epic clash with Egypt, in the first leg of the final round of World Cup qualifier scheduled for Brazil 2014. The Black Stars will host the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Tuesday, 1600GMT, before a reverse trip to Cairo in a month's time. Kevin-Prince Boateng will not feature for Ghana due to an injury suffered in his last Bundesliga game against Augsburg where he opened the scoresheet from a spot-kick, but was soon withdrawn from the match due to an injury suffered in the course of the game. This occurred prior to the international break when he had been enlisted as part of the Ghana squad to face Egypt. The injury blow extends the period when KP Boateng will make a return to the Stars, after his self-imposed temporar retirement was rescinded to a time; nobody knows. However, the FC Schalke forward publicly declared via his twitter handle, his support to the Black Stars in his absence: "I wish the Ghana Blackstars all the best of luck for the game against Egypt! Very sorry I can't be there and help... #blackstars #shining".

Pharaoh's Architect - Mohammed Salah

Mohammed Salah will play a pivotal role; when Ghana host Egypt in the first leg, of the final round of World Cup qualifiers to Brazil 2014 on Tuesday at 1600GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. WHO'S MOHAMMED SALAH? At age 21, the FC Basel forward has established himself as the talisman of the current Egypt National team and holds the magic wand to their success story under Coach Bob Bradley. He is an integral member of the Swiss club and one of the most promising youngsters in Europe. He won CAF's most promising player in the 2012 CAF awards. He participated in the FIFA U20 World Cup 2011 and Summer Olympics, London 2012 for his nation. He has netted 17 goals in 24 appearances for the Pharaohs and is currently the top scorer on the continent in the qualifying campaign for the Mundial tournament, with 6 goals. HIS STRENGTH: Mohammed Salah is a nimble-footed winger who enjoys playing on either flanks and never shy away when put behind the leadsman or even made the leadsman. He has an outstanding pace that outruns every lateral defender that comes his way. He enjoys taking on defenders due his unparalleled pace and flair. A resilient Chelsea defence were victimized when they faced FC Basel in the Champions League and Europa League 2013. He managed to score not less than two goals against such a club at both levels, all at Stamford Bridge, underlining his potency infront of goal. His passes are also worth noting. Ghana coach , Akwasi Appiah should be worried of how to deploy a style to tame this young Pharaoh who seems unstoppable from a first glance. HIS WEAKNESS: Mohammed Salah's bane has been his inability to make a wholesome impact without the ball. His tackles are not the best of a winger ,who's expected to track back and help when the need arises. In defence, he is the exact opposite negative of his strengths. However Bob Bradley gives him free role, implying; his lack of tracking back to defend or tackle, brings no harm to the Pharaohs of Egypt. Bob Bradley stated categorically clear the essence of Salah some months back in the team, with or without the ball. HOW IS HE NEUTRALIZED? Amid his unrivaled qualities in the Egypt side, Salah finds it tough competiting ruthless yet rugged man-markers. However defenders are always at the receiving end of cards from referees in such cases due to his nimble and pacy feet. Nevertheless , referees failure to overprotect him , leave him frustrated when matched with such opposition and ends up, reflecting the least of his capabilities in such games. Ghana Black Stars coach, now has another true gem with youthful exuberance apart from the experienced Mohammed Mohammed Abu Treika and the likes of Waed Goma to tame, in the person of Mohammed Salah 'The young Architect of the Pharaohs' . Indeed this match deserves the billing for the pick of the qualifying phase and truly, a match fit for the gods.

Ghana's veteran goalie 'Olele' turns subject of Twitter banter : 'Olelefacts'

Ghana Black Stars' veteran goalkeeper, Richard 'Olele' Kingson continues to receive loads of criticism and fun-making, following his return to the goal-post of the National soccer team in over two years, ahead of the Egypt clash from Ghanaians. The 35-year old goalie was the nation's safest pair of hands in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups held in Germany and South Africa respectively. His absence from the national team was due to his failure to acquire a club for playing time according to the FA's president, Kwasi Nyantakyi. 'Olele', as popularly known, earned a call-up to the side again, after impressing the technical directorate of the national side headed by Coach Akwasi Appiah in far away Cyprus, where he plies his trade. He was called to bolster the goalkeeping area, ahead of Ghana's final round of qualifier with the Pharaoh's of Egypt for Brazil 2014 World cup in a two-legged tie. The playoff will see Ghana host Egypt first before a reverse trip to Cairo in mid-November. However, a large number of Ghanaian supporters have shown their disapproval to 'Olele's return to the team and has become the subject of a new trend on twittersphere: #olelefacts. Below are some of the tweets from the Ghanaian folks ahead of the Egypt clash on Tuesday at the Baba Yara Sports stadium. "@Bonsam_Mpo_Suro - Olele headed the America expedition with Christopher Columbus ! (The land of gold) #olelefacts" ; "@BlackMyth_ - And yaa asantewaa whispered to olele "I know you're my elder brother but lemme take this shot" #Olelefacts" ; "@ettennareal - Olele cleared the table after the last supper #OleleFacts" "@Bonsam_Mpo_Suro - According to greek mythology there are 10 planets , one is called OLELE !!! #olelefacts" ; "@TinaAikins06 - The popular stadium song"Ooley oley oley oleey" was in reference to Olele in his hey day in the 1920s..he was a striker then." ; "@fredkinxx OKomfo Anokye went to look for Olele's birth certificate and never came back.....#olelefacts" Nevertheless, the veteran goalie has vowed to put all his critics to shame when given the opportunity to prove his worth on Tuesday against Egypt amidst local fans discontent with his age and timing of his recall into the side.

"Now I am ready to face Egypt" : Sulley Muntari

Ghana and AC Milan midfielder, Sulley Ali Muntari was on target twice as his side lost to the Italian Champions, Juventus on Sunday night in the Serie A clash. His brace could not stop the Torino club from clinching all 3points at stake after Andre Pirlo,Sebastian Giovinco and Giorgio Chiellini hit back at the Milan club to secure all points for the 'Old Ladies of Serie A'. In the same game, Kwadwo Asamoah also featured for the Biaconeris as the home side carried the day. Both Asamoah and Muntari will play for Ghana, when they square off with Egypt at the Baba Yara Sports stadium in the first leg of the final round of world-cup qualifiers slated for Brazil, 2014 in a week's time , Tuesday . Ghanaians on Twitter went agog as Muntari scored twice for his Milan side.Sulley Ali Muntari, the former Inter Milan player, opened his account in less than a minute thus 20 seconds before adding another late consolation goal. Muntari looks to have the magic wand against Juventus as he scored against them when he was at Inter Milan and also scored a 'ghost' goal against same club last season but was disallowed. Muntari after the game wrote on his twitter timeline, " Very happy for the two goals last night but unfortunate we lost. We need to keep fighting. Now I am ready to face Egypt with the national team #forzamilan #forzablackstars". Obviously, that was a fair warning to the Pharaohs of Egypt as they head to Ghana for the qualifiers. Both players lasted the entire duration of the game and played instrumental roles for their sides,with Muntari customarily picking a yellow card late in the game.