In Ghana

Today
Ghana v Guinea
Live on GTV, SS3 8 p.m.

TEN countries have hosted the MTN Africa Nations Cup and won it since the tournament was instituted in 1957.

Ethiopia (1962), Ghana (1963, 1978), Sudan (1970), Nigeria (1980), Egypt (1986, 2006), Algeria (1990), South Africa (1996) and Tunisia (2004) are the countries with the proud record.

Will Ghana again follow the pattern 30 years after their fourth triumph when they beat Uganda Cranes 2-0 in the finals? The odds are on Ghana to win the Cup for a record equaling fifth time. The Black Stars carry the hopes of football loving nation and any thing short of victory on February 10 will be a disaster.

Pre-match clash
It is not that often opponents clash for training pitches ahead of a crucial match. But that is what happened on Friday afternoon at the AWAK Military Stadium.

Shortly after Ghana's Black Stars started their training session, an advance party of Guineans led by head coach Robert Nouzaret arrived to prepare the pitch for his own team's training session.
A war of words between the two teams ensued and security was called. Nouzaret claimed he had been allocated the pitch.

“We are supposed to train here at this time,” he stated. But Ghanaians were having none of it. “You are supposed to train at the main Stadium today, not here. Please leave before we push you out,” one of the Black Stars' officials said.

Ghana's team blamed the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for not communicating to the teams. Meanwhile, Ghana's coach Claude Le Roy has told his players to improve on their shooting if the team is to make a successful title bid.

But he is optimistic the players will come good tomorrow (read today). “Training is different from the match itself. Today the boys will carry their shooting boots,” the ever-serious coach said.

Explosive midfield dynamo Micheal Essien was equally confident of the side's chances against Guinea today.
“We have great respect for Guinea but we are going to win today,” Essien told Sunday Monitor.

Betting fever
If you thought betting was only in Uganda with Simba Casino Betting, hold your breath as betting companies here will have to pay highly as most people have placed money on Ghana to win the opener against Guinea today.

Simba Casino located at Garden City has staked millions of shillings to be won by lucky individuals who place bets throughout the entire tournament. “We are going to pay off winners for every bet and match. We shall also be screening all the 32 matches ,” said the manager Madam Esra Guyilder.
The match kicks off at 8 p.m.

GTV party
PAY television company GTV has teamed up with the G4 to throw a mega media bash for football fans in the country.

The TV company, which has raised the bar in pay television acrosss the continent and given local football a shot in the arm with a mega Shs1.7b annual sponsorship, has decided to reward faithful subscribers with a mega bash at Ange Noir.

GTV General Manager Daniel Kagwe is in no doubt in which direction Uganda football is going. “I personally believe the standard of football is getting higher and there is more commitment from the clubs, Fufa, Namboole and all stakeholders,” he said.

G4 Chairman Denis Mbidde said the organisation is here to mobilise Ugandan fans of whatever persuasion to watch soccer. The party begins at 6 p.m.