
Yahaya Mohamed played his way into Ghana fans’ hearts with an impressive performance during The Black Stars ‘second group match against Libya last Friday. The dreadlocked striker put on a man of the match shift and capped it all with a superb header for Ghana’s only goal in the 1-1 draw with the Mediterranean Knights. Come Tuesday 21st January Ghana will be looking to avoid defeat against Ethiopia to reach the quarter- finals but they will have to do that without suspended Yahaya. Cafonline.com caught up with the Black Stars striker ahead of the last group C match.
Cafonline.com: How much did you enjoy that match against Libya?
Yahaya: Oh it was great to be on the field and make a contribution to the team and l was happy that l was selected man of the match. I am also happy to have scored a goal although l believe we should have scored two or more goals especially in the first half when we dominated play and possession.
Cafonline.com: You will miss the Ethiopia game, how painful will this be for you?
Yahaya: I am sad that it came to this and the second yellow l received has cost me another opportunity to play and give the coaches something to think about. As a player you always want to be involved in every game especially at a tournament and all l can do now is trust my team mates to go out against Ethiopia and help qualify us to the quarters. I trust them and know that they will deliver on this and thereafter l will hopefully be available for selection for the next game.
Cafonline.com: In your absence where will the goals for Ghana come from?
Yahaya: Our team has people capable of scoring goals. Remember in our first group game against Congo, it was Theophilus Anobaah who scored so all players can get us goals. We have midfielders who can chip in with goals too and of course fellow strikers like Sulley Mohamed, Seidu Bansey and Paul Asare who are proven goal scorers. I don’t have any worries about goals as l know the team is able to score.
Cafonline.com: What sort of game are you expecting against Ethiopia on Tuesday?
Yahaya: It is a very dangerous game that we face against Ethiopia. When a team has nothing to prove other than play for pride they are not easy to play. We know that we want to avoid a loss but we will have to go into the match with a winning mentality and execute the right system to get what we want from a very good team that has done well recently. We know they have not finished off the chances they have created but at some point they will and it could be against us. This is why l say it’s a hard and difficult match that we face on Tuesday.
Cafonline.com: What is your personal aim and ambition for this CHAN tournament?
Yahaya: I want to full utilize this CHAN tournament to push for recognition of my game and ability by coach Maxwell Konadu and Black Stars head coach, Kwesi Appiah who is also here. I want to give them a headache with selection problems by playing well enough to be considered for the senior Black Stars team. The places for the team to play in Brazil 2014 World Cup have not been finalized yet and all players in this CHANA team know that. Collectively we want to go all the way and win CHAN as it has been a long time since Ghana won any Cup
Cafonline.com: What do you think of CHAN as a tournament?
Yahaya: It is a fantastic idea and one that has produced a worthwhile competition to show the local players who otherwise who remain unknown. It is a platform for all local players to launch careers in big and more competitive football leagues elsewhere in the world including here on the African continent. I have spoken to Ghanaian players playing here in South Africa and it is a country l would love to play my club football in.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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