Ghana v Cameroon

Cup of Nations, semi-final
Date: Thursday 7 February
Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Venue: Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra


Michael Essien will captain the Black Stars in the absence of the suspended John Mensah.

Russia-based defender Shilla Illiasu has been passed fit for the game, but coach Claude LeRoy is yet to decide who will take Mensah's place.

Both coaches have previously been in charge of their opponents.

LeRoy led Cameroon to their 1988 Nations Cup title, while Indomitable Lions coach Otto Pfister took Ghana to second place in 1992.

Ghana have the advantage of an extra day's rest, having beaten Nigeria in the quarter-finals on Sunday, a day before Cameroon's bruising 120-minute clash with Tunisia.

Cameroon displayed great physical strength in that game, and Pfister believes his side can upset the hosts.

"I will tactically paralyse the Black Stars in Thursday's match," he said.
After every game we think, 'it can't get any better', but it's like the sky's the limit at the minute

Junior Agogo

"I have a track record in this tournament and my primary objective is to beat Ghana."

Like Cameroon, Ghana have improved through the tournament.

Lifted by the home crowd and playing with 10 men, they showed resolve in their 2-1 win over Nigeria.

Striker Junior Agogo, who scored the winning goal, is enjoying the Black Stars' run.

"Over here football is the be-all and end-all, so when we play it helps people to forget about their worries in their life and it brings so many people together," he told BBC Sport.

"It gives us that extra energy to go out and play hard.

"After every game we think, 'it can't get any better', but it's like the sky's the limit at the minute."

Le Roy believes that this stage of the competition is particularly difficult.

606: DEBATE
The Black Stars are gelling and peaking from match to match. They are still the best soccer nation in Africa since the 2006 World Cup

Wakapen

"In every big competition, the hardest part is always the semi-final," he said.

"It's the most difficult step to take. Psychologically it's a difficult hurdle to get over, we have to be wary of it."

"Remember the last World Cup, (hosts) Germany thought they had done the hardest part but eventually lost in semi-final."