Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac believes his youthful team's fine at
run the African Cup of Nations will help his players at the World
Cup, despite Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Egypt in the final.
"Experience gained here will be crucial to our preparations
at the World Cup," Rajevac told the Associated Press after Egypt
dashed his hopes of becoming the first foreign coach to lift the
African Cup of Nations title with Ghana. "We now have enough time
to prepare."
Germany's Otto Pfister came close to steering Ghana to
success in 1992 but lost the final to Ivory Coast. Ghana took
bronze on home soil under Frenchman Claude Le Roy two years ago.
Rajevac will face his native Serbia, Germany and Australia in
Group D at the World Cup, which runs June 11-July 11.
Battling injuries to key players, Ghana beat host Angola and
fellow World Cup qualifier Nigeria on its way to Sunday's final.
But despite a dominating performance against Egypt, Rajevac's side
couldn't win the country's first continental championship in 28
years.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien withdrew from the Ghana
squad with a knee injury, while celebrated captain Stephen Appiah
stayed in Bologna, also struggling with an injury. John Mensah and
John Paintsil were also on Ghana's injury list.
Enter Under 20 World Cup winners Emmanuel Badu and midfield
partner Andre Ayew, son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele.
Displaying a blend of youthful enthusiasm and aggression,
Badu and Ayew fought for possession in midfield against Egypt,
helping little-known defenders Samuel Inkoom and Addy Lee thwart
Egypt's attack-minded game.
Goalkeeper Richard Kingson, playing with a hamstring injury,
also helped steadied the ship at the back. However, he was
powerless to prevent Mohammed Gedo's winner for Egypt in the 85th
minute.
Though the younger players have made their case for a place
in the World Cup squad, Rajevac did not close the door on his
established stars.
"The young players are the future," he said. "But they cannot
play on their own. Egypt beat us today because they have plenty of
experience."
Egypt's win gave it its seventh title, a record at the
continental tournament.
Home-grown coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi is a three-time winner
with Ghana, lifting the title in 1963, 1965 and 1982 while another
local coach Fred Osam Duodu grabbed it in 1978.
