Ghana take on Zambia in the semi-final of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup at the 35,000 seat Estadio de Bata, with the Black Stars aiming to get to the final for the second tournament in succession.

Before the tournament the President of the Ghana FA stated the desire to bring the Black Stars wait for the trophy to an end, a pressure acknowledged by Coach Goran Stevanovic: “Playing in the final is the least everyone expects from us. We relish being among the favourites and there is additional pressure on the team because I have told them many times that Ghana must win the Cup of Nations for the first time in 30 years.”

There have been comments in the media that Ghana may be lucky to be at this stage, with their football at times unconvincing. In the group stage a 2-0 win over fellow semi-finalists Mali was sandwiched between an unimpressive win over Botswana and a draw with Guinea. The quarter-finals saw the Black Stars needing extra time and a goalkeeping howler to overcome 10-man Tunisia. The anticipation for Ghana to play more exciting football and brush other teams aside may stem from their exhilarating performances at the 2010 World Cup. At this tournament, and arguably feeling the weight of the expectation, the football has been efficient, with the results and progress before excitement.

Zambia should be more rested than Ghana. Their quarter-final was a day earlier in Bata [as was two of their group games], and the Ghanaians will also have had to travel from Gabon. Despite this Ghana will start as favourites against the Chipolopolos, who have impressed in this tournament, scoring eight goals so far.

There is respect for the Copper Bullets within the Black Stars, midfielder Sully Muntari telling CAFOnline.com: Zambia is a strong side and they wouldn’t be here if they were not a good team. They have dangerous players and play as unit. Each team has ambition and we reckon it will not be easy.”

Zambia may also have more freedom to play having met Coach’s Herve Renard objective for the tournament. “There is no more pressure on us,” said Renard, adding: “And now we can dream of going all the way to the final. Ghana are favourites, but we will be prepared for them.”

Stevanovic though believes his squad has the character to meet the challenge: “The most important thing is the moral and personality. We have all that and are ready for the game.”

The Coach has confirmed he has a full squad to pick from, with captain John Mensah recovering from the injury picked up against Tunisia. Mensah will be vital in defence against the high scoring Chipolopolos, but has contributed up front as well, scoring two goals, including Ghana’s 100th in the Cup of Nations. Alongside him will probably be the promising and ever-present young centre-back John Boye. Behind them will be goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, another ever-present in his first tournament. Four other Black Stars have started every match. Anthony Annan, who has been tidy in midfield, the impressive box-to-box midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, the exciting Andre Ayew on the wing and Asamoah Gyan, their talismanic striker. All will need to be on form to gain victory over The Copper Bullets.

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Ghana, winners of Group D, play Tunisia today in Franceville in the last quarter-final of this knockout stage – the winners taking on Zambia in the semi-final. The Black Stars are desperate to end their 30-year wait for the title and will hope that history repeats itself today, as the Carthage Eagles have never beaten Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Ghanaian fans though are still waiting for the Black Stars to capture the form displayed in getting to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.

The Black Stars took seven points from their group stage, but their progress was built on their defensive displays, conceding only one goal in their three matches. This was impressive considering the defensive unit was unsettled through all three matches. Captain John Mensah and his experienced centre-back partner Isaac Vorsah served suspensions for a part of the group stages – there was the relatively untested Masahudu Alhassan at left-back and Adam Kwarasey in goal as well as the inexperienced centre-back pairing of John Boye and Johnathan Mensah. Boye’s performances have been good enough in particular to leave Coach Goran Stevanovic with a selection headache.

The defence has been assisted and shielded by the efficient Anthony Annan and the impressive Emmanul-Ageymang Badu, leaving the attacking midfield of Andre Ayew, Kojo Asamoah and Sulley Muntari to support lone striker Asamoah Gyan. Despite their impressive defensive display and being unbeaten, the Black Stars have not convinced, particularly going forward. There have been some excellent moments, such as Gyan’s free-kick, Ayew’s skilful goal against Mali and Badu’s stunner against Guinea, but these have appeared more moments of individual brilliance than cohesive teamwork and there perhaps needs to be more communication on the pitch.

As favourites to progress, Ghana may feel the obligation to take the game to Tunisia rather than play their normal counter-attacking game, especially as Tunisia, also a counter-attacking team, are unlikely to leave themselves open by taking the game to Ghana. This may be a problem for the Black Stars. So far, Stevanovic has sent out his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation and arguably what is missing is a player to link the defensive midfielders to the attack. There may be scope to play Derek Boateng in a deep playmaking role alongside Badu as a more natural bridge to the attacking players. Ghana have a few injury worries over Kwarasey and Andrew Ayew, who injured a shoulder against Guinea, but are being positive over their chances of starting the quarter-final. They may be needed as the Ghana camp acknowledge that Tunisia are an organised, defensive unit and are facing a tough match.

Tunisia’s Coach, Sami Trabelsi has stated that his team will play aggressive and efficient football to knock the Black Stars off their stride. However, Ghana should have enough to overcome Tunisia, especially if they can find their cohesion.