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Black Stars of Ghana

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DR Congo are battling to get several players ready in time for their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Ghana on Sunday.

The latest player on their injury list is Chancel Mbemba, who joined the queue to the treatment room after hurting his knee in the 3-1 win over Togo on Tuesday.

"He felt it quite early in the match, he carried on but if he doesn't improve we will not be able to use him against the Ghanaians," said coach Florent Ibenge.

However, Mbemba did manage to train on Saturday.

Jordan Ikoko and Gabriel Zakuani are improving slowly, and have a 50% chance of playing.

But Birmingham City's Jacques Maghoma is definitely out.

The Congolese fans have been magnificent in Gabon, creating a presence that has lifted their team, and Ibenge is eager to give them more to happy about.

"Football, music and religion, that's the Congo," he said. "We have a population that has gone through difficult times and at the moment football gives them joy.

"I am happy because the whole country is happy. And this little piece of happiness, you cannot imagine how good it feels."

Wake-up call

Ghana are expected to have captain Asamoah Gyan available after fears were eased over the striker's fitness, following an injury he suffered against Egypt on Wednesday,

But the Black Stars' preparations have been hit by travel delays that mean they arrived in Oyem only on Friday.

Coach Grant is hoping for a more suitable playing surface in Oyem than they had to deal with in Port-Gentil during the group stage.

"I hope the pitch is better than there because it was not good for everybody," Grant said.

The Israeli also sounded a warning to his team not to be complacent.

"Two giants, in my opinion, in Ivory Coast and Algeria, are out of the way so it's a good wake-up call to all the people that think they are a big team and that it's enough," Grant said.

"It's not enough. You need to prove it on the pitch."

 

Source: BBC

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