The Black Stars have been tipped to beat Malawi on Saturday

By Patrick Akoto

Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi is confident the Black Stars will kill off the ambitions of Malawi in Saturday’s crucial 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Black Stars face a plucky Southern African side in a bid to protect their hold of their 2-0 advantage from the first leg.

The team has been going through the paces in their camping base in Kenya ahead of the big game in the capital Lilongwe on Saturday.

Head coach Kwesi Appiah is anxious to qualify the West African giants to their 19^th appearance in the continental showpiece by assembling in-form players for the cracker.

The country’s FA boss says he is more confident the team will scale the hurdle against The Flames to reach the finals.

“We are all hopeful that the team will qualify to the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa,” Nyantakyi said

“But that qualification is not going to be easy. Notwithstanding, I think the fans must pray for the team and still look forward to a qualification.

“I am very confident that we’ll qualify because of the work that has been done on the team and because of the investment in time, preparations, resources and everything.

“We are also confident the boys will live up to expectation and deliver the goals on Saturday.”

Malawi and Ghana have met on five previous occasions with the Ghanaians winning on four of those and a draw in the other.

Malawi have never scored against the Ghanaians in five games despite conceding 16 times in those games with 12 of those goals coming in the very first meeting between the sides in a friendly in 1962.