Rab’s World

GHana Vs. Mexico - March 26, 2008 London UK

GHANA - 1 - MEXICO - 2 [Full Time]

***** Live on Telemundo in the USA ***** en Español - 4PM EST/8PM GMT

Ghana would play its first match since the 2008 African Nations Cup against Mexico in an international friendly today.

The international friendly game to be played in London on March 26 would be the first match for the Nations Cup bronze medalist since their elevation to their status as Africa’s best footballing team. The game will be played at Cottage Craven; the home of the English Premiere league club; Fulham.

Ghana, the world’s 14th best ranked team are two places ahead of their Northern American opponents in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings released for February.

The Black Stars would use the game as one the preparatory matches for the 2010 World Cup and African Nations qualifiers which begins later in June.

The match would be the second international game between both sides after their March 2006 friendly in the United States, which the Mexicans won by a lone goal by Guillermo Franco in Houston, USA.

Ghana is a four-time African Cup champion, and the team became a fan-favorite at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with its fast-paced game. The Black Stars made it through a tough group stage but lost to Brazil in the second round.

Mexico also reached the second round in Germany, but again lost to Argentina.

Ghana will use the game as one the preparatory matches toward the 2010 World Cup and African Nations qualifiers which begins later in June.

Against Ghana, Mexico will have 10 European-based players in his squad, including Manchester City forward Nery Castillo and Guillermo Franco of Villarreal.

Ghana Team - Coach: Claude LeRoy

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England)
Patrick Antwi (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)

Defenders:

John Paintsil (West Ham, England)
John Mensah (Rennes, France)
Richard Manu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland)

Midfielders:

Anthony Annan (Stabaek, Norway)
Michael Essien (Chelsea, England)
Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England)
Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France)
Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland)
Prince Buaben (Dundee Utd, Scotland)

Strikers:

Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England)
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain)

Mexico Team - Coach: Hugo Sanchez

GoalKeepers:
Oswaldo Javier Sánchez Ibarra (Santos)
Moisés Alberto Muñoz Rodríguez (Monarcas)
José de Jesús Corona Rodríguez (UA de G.)

Defenders:
Carlos Arnoldo Salcido Flores (PSV Eindhoven)
Ricardo Osorio Mendoza (VFB Stuttgart)
Aarón Galindo Rubio (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Fausto Manuel Pinto Rosas (Pachuca)
Israel Castro Macías (UNAM)
Julio Cesar Domínguez Juárez (Cruz Azul)

Midfielders:
Pavel Pardo Segura (VFB Stuttgart)
José Andrés Guardado Hernández (Dep. La Coruña)
Fernando Enrique Arce Ruiz (Santos)
Gerardo Torrado Diez de Bonilla (Cruz Azul)
Antonio Naelson Matías Sinha (Toluca)

Forwards:
Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido* (Osasuna)
Antonio de Nigris Guajardo (Ankaraspor)
Nery Alberto Castillo Confalonieri (Manchester City)
Juan Carlos Cacho Gutiérrez (Pachuca)
Adolfo Bautista Herrera (Jaguares)
Guillermo Luis Franco* (Villareal)

No word of the staring line-up as of this hour!