Black stars wary of tricky Cape Verde

[Folami David]

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is so wary of the underdog threat of tournament debuntant Cape Verde in the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals that he has suggested he would 'prefer' to face title favourite Ivory Coast instead.
.
Even after Ghana beat the Cape Verdeans 1-0 in a friendly late last year, Appiah won't be underestimating the rank outsider after it lifted itself from the brink of elimination and into the last eight in the final minutes of the group stage.
.
The quaterfinals were an unlikely dream for the small island nation when it started its first major tournament in South Africa nearly two weeks ago.
.
'' They will play without any pressure and they are a very physical side, meaning we have to prepare ourselves very well to match them '', Appiah said on Wednesday. '' I respect them and we cannot afford to underrate them ''.
.