Ghana gain beneficial draw

Former Ghana FA president Ben Koufie has labelled the Black Stars’ African Cup of Nations draw as advantageous.

The West Africans were drawn to face Botswana, Guinea and Mali in Group D, with all pool matches to take place in Franceville, Gabon.

Koufe said Ghana would be able to defeat all three teams in the group and coast into the quarter-finals, but warned Goran Stefanovic’s men against overconfidence and complacency.

“We have to be cautious for all the matches. It looks like a reasonably good group. I don’t think it is the group of death. I don’t. We have to be extra careful match to match. We can beat all of them,” he told KickOffGhana.com.

Koufie, who was once the technical director for the Botswana Football Association, acknowledged the strong determination of the Zebras, who were the first to qualify for the tournament.

“They have worked hard to reach where they are now. I think they will be a very determined lot. I started the whole thing when I went there. They were not playing international competitions. They play the English type of football and have lots of stamina,” he said.

“They have been in camp for so long and just training because they have very few players from outside.”

“I wish Botswana very well but not to the extent that they beat my team.”