Le Roy talks up Cameroon

Ghana coach Claude Le Roy has compared his side to the Cameroon side of 1988 which he led to victory in the African Cup of Nations that year.

"I've got long experience, this is my sixth quarter-final, and I can say this Ghana team are very

close to Cameroon in 1988 in terms of skill and dedication," he said at the team's hotel on Tuesday.

"It seems that day after day we're becoming very difficult to beat. I've got the same feeling as I had in Morocco in 1988.

"Perhaps there are teams here wwith more execptional players but mentally there's not one stronger than us."

Reflecting on Ghana's 2-0 win over the Atlas Lions which earned them a last eight date with either Ivory Coast, Mali or Nigeria, the Frenchman who turns 60 next month said: "That was their best performance since I took charge.

"Technically, tactically, physically and mentally we played at a very high quality."

Explaining his switch in tactics to allow Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien more space - and which worked to a tee - Le Roy said: "I asked a lot from Quincey and Sulley (Muntari), they played an important role tactically to give Michael more space.

"We had to win the battle in midfield, and we did that."

Le Roy inevitably wasn't giving any clues away to the side that he'll pick for the quarter-final.

"The day I decide the team the first people who will know is the players. I'll pick the best XI to beat whoever we play.

"The first quality for intelligence is to be able to adapt, that's what we'll do depending on who we play."

Celta Vigo star Quincy Owusu Abeyie believes the intense criticism directed at the Black Stars after their unconvincing display in their second game

against Namibia was unjust.

"The attacks were very rough, I don't think it helped us as the Morocco game was very important.

"Sometimes the media are too harsh towards the players. There's no need for that, we're going out there to give it our all."