World Cup 2010 - Countdown: Glory for Ghana?

We continue our World Cup countdown with a look at the Black Stars of Ghana.
GHANA

World Cup record:

Previous appearances in finals: One

Best performance: Second round in 2006

Coach: Milan Rajevac was an unknown quantity when he took over as coach of the Black Stars, his appointment heavily criticised by Ghana's media. It has been his first coaching assignment outside of his native Serbia where the 55-year-old previously worked at Red Star Belgrade. Ghana are hoping he will deliver the same as compatriot Ratomir Dujkovic, who took Ghana into the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup finals in their debut appearance.

Key players:

Stephen Appiah (Bologna) Age: 29. Position: Midfield. With Michael Essien ruled out of the tournament with is long-standing knee injury, the midfield general role has been transferred to the man who captained the Black Stars during the 2006 World Cup. However, he has missed plenty of football this season through injury, only making his Bologna debut in the penultimate game of the season.

Sulley Muntari (Internazionale) Age: 25. Position: Midfield. A crafty midfielder who once had trials at Manchester United and spent a season at Portsmouth, during which they won the FA Cup in 2008. Muntari was the subject of a controversy over his fasting earlier this year during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, when Inter coach Jose Mourinho said he was lacking fitness and energy and put him on the bench.

Asamoah Gyan (Stade Rennes) Age: 24. Position: Striker. Blighted by injury over the last two years, Gyan has finally been able to get some consistency in his game and been among the leading goal scorers in France's Ligue 1 this season.

FIFA world ranking May 2010: 32nd.

How they qualified: Ghana were the first side to qualify from the African preliminaries, securing top place in their group with two games still to play. They had expected a tough test from Mali but in June won away in Bamako to nullified the threat of their west African rivals and from there on in, it was an easy coast to the finish line. Ghana lost their 100 percent record only after already securing qualification when they used experimental sides in their last two group matches.

Prospects: A confident showing in their debut outing at the last World Cup suggests Ghana will be one of the real African contenders. They are heavily reliant on Muntari and Appiah, and battle to score goals, but it is a side that is oozing with confidence.

World Cup odds: 66/1

Expert view: "African teams are in a different and better position than previous tournaments, and I think we are better prepared,” Bwalya said. We do have the confidence and experience, and I believe our teams now believe they can achieve success at this level. I think Ghana have been the most consistent team from Africa, and they are favourites at the moment." Former Zambia international Kalusha Bwalya (myjoyonline.com, Ghana)

Squad (29): Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars); Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Eric Addo (Roda JC), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham); Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Internazionale), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah (both Udinese), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moscow), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd), Bernard Kumordzie (Panionios), Laryea Kingston (Hearts), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth); Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan).