With only four teams left in Africa's premier competition, all are aware of the magnitude of proceedings—Ghana have made it this far after topping their group, and then overcoming Cape Verde 2-0 in the first of the tournament's quarter finals. Burkina Faso have emerged as the tournament's surprise package, topping Group C ahead of Zambia and Nigeria, before holding their nerve to best Togo in extra time.
Burkina Faso feel they have a major advantage over Ghana because they have been based in Nelspruit throughout the tournament, emerging as the surprise winner of group and eliminating defending champions Zambia.
While Ghana enter this match as clear favourites, Burkina Faso will be imbued with confidence after their bold run to this stage. Despite the absence of their star player and the tournament's joint-top scorer Alain Traore due to injury, Jonathan Pitroipa has stepped up to take his place as the team's creative inspiration.
Wakaso Mubarak has been Ghana's star, weighing in with three crucial goals, however, the Black Stars lineup is riddled with talented players who could have a major impact on the big stage.
The pitch at the Mbombela Stadium has been a major talking point and Put feels four games’ experience on the hard and sandy surface stands his side in good stead.
“It is a psychological advantage for us because it will be our fifth game at the Mbombela Stadium. We know the pitch will be equally bad for both teams but in our heads we know we can play on it."
Burkina Faso beat Ethiopia and Togo at the venue and drew with both Nigeria and Zambia.
But if the Burkinabe coach was seeking to play mind games with his opponents, Kwesi Appiah of Ghana was having none of it.
“We need to compete whether the pitch is good or bad,” he said at a separate news conference in Nelspruit on Tuesday.
“My players are all professionals and used to different conditions. Back home in Ghana we play regularly on far worse pitches. We need to take our mind off the pitch issue,” he added.
Ghana have played all four of their previous games on a lush green turf in Port Elizabeth.
