Ghana’s toughest test at the African Nations Cup will be Thursday’s semifinal against Cameroon, the host nation’s coach Claude Le Roy said on Tuesday.
”In every big competition, the hardest part is always the semifinal,” the Frenchman told reporters after the Black Stars’ training session in Accra.
Ghana play Cameroon at Accra’s Ohene Djan stadium on Thursday at 5pm GMT.
”Remember the 1988 Nations Cup: Morocco, who hosted the tournament, lost to Cameroon in the semis and at the last World Cup, [hosts] Germany thought they had done the hardest part but eventually lost in semifinal,” Le Roy added.
”The semifinal is always the most difficult step to climb.”
Le Roy will have to cope with the absence of captain John Mensah, who is suspended after picking up a red card in Ghana’s 2-1 win over Nigeria in the quarterfinal.
”John is one of the best defenders in the world and without him, we are experiencing a major tactical challenge,” he said, adding he had yet to come up with a plan.
Le Roy, who led Cameroon to their 1988 Nations Cup title and coached them during the 1998 World Cup finals, said he would leave no room for feelings during Thursday’s game.
”I will put my feelings aside during the 90 minutes. I’ve had great times with Cameroon but I am now the Ghana coach,” he said.
”Feelings will be for before and after the match.” – Reuters