[ 2015-02-08 ]

Afcon: We can expect quality final - Grant
Ghana coach Avram Grant is expecting a good game
with Ivory Coast in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations
final.

"We've seen quality players and quality football
in this tournament but we can expect even more,"
he said.

"There are a lot of good players in both line-ups
and I think because of that we can expect a
quality final."

Organisers will be eager for the focus to return
to football and away from the crowd trouble in
Ghana's semi-final that has marred the
tournament.

Play was interrupted for 30 minutes towards the
end of Ghana's 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea on
Thursday as the home supporters threw missiles
from the stands.

No-one will want a repeat of those scenes and it
would be good for the tournament to ends on a
positive note with a good final.

Ghana will seek to avenge defeat to Ivory Coast in
the 1992 final - the only time the Elephants have
lifted the trophy - and Grant says his side are in
the right frame of mind to deliver.

"They are very motivated, they do not need any
speeches because we have come a long way as nobody
gave us a chance. They will show this on Sunday."

Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard says his team will
draw belief from their success 23 years ago.

"The win in 1992 is a psychological advantage as
Ivory Coast beat Ghana on penalties", said Renard,
who was Ghana's assistant coach at the 2008
Nations Cup.

However, the Frenchman dismissed the tag of
favourites attached to his teaM.

"Some people are also expecting the Black Stars to
win. What people think is not important, we have
to focus on our target. We know why we are here.

"In my opinion, it's time (for Ivory Coast to
win). We will see what happens on the night. It
will be a tough game - a final between two of
Africa's strongest teams. It won't be easy.

"I know Ghana very well, but they also have some
new players. It is better to know them very well.

"If you don't know Asamoah Gyan is a good header
of the ball, then you are in trouble. So, we won't
be surprised by them.

"But Ghana is not only Gyan. Their best per is
Andre Ayew and so we have to be very careful about
him."

Source - BBC

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