Cameroon ready for Ghana test

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister
Cup of Nations, semi-final
Date: Thursday 7 February
Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Venue: Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
BBC Coverage: BBC Sport website, live on BBCi at 1645 GMT; Live commentary on BBC World Service radio in Africa

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 have also had to contend with switching hotels in Accra after the players were unhappy with the standard of accommodation when they arrived there on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the unwanted distractions, 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

"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.

And 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.


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."