Having hammered Guinea 3-0 in the previous stage, Ghana have got to be considered the favourites to qualify for the final, but eliminating the high-flying hosts will be no easy task.

Equatorial Guinea had a big help from the referees as they eventually eliminated Tunisia, and it remains to be seen whether they can match the Black Stars in the semis.

Ghana did not have the best of starts to the tournament finals, with the 2-1 loss to Senegal in their opening match threatening to prematurely end their campaign.

The Black Stars, however, showed improvement to beat very good Algeria side, before coming from a goal down to defeat South Africa and secure their progress into the knockout stages.

After negotiating their way out of a tough group, Ghana produced a thoroughly impressive performance to record a 3-0 triumph over Guinea and move one step closer to the coveted trophy.

As a result, the Black Stars are rightly considered favourites in their semi-final clash with Equatorial Guinea, with Avram Grant’s charges 1.83 (5/6) to win in regular time.

The former Chelsea coach is sweating over the fitness of star player Asamoah Gyan, who was on the receiving end of a blatant foul by Guinea keeper Naby Yattara.

The striker is now a major doubt for the Equatorial Guinea clash, with Jordn Ayew ready to deputize if needed.

Probable starting line-up (4-1-3-2): Razak – Afful, Mensah, Boye, Baba – Acquah – Atsu, Wakaso, A. Ayew – Gyan, Appiah.

Equatorial Guinea were not only awarded a place at the tournament finals, but were also pretty fortunate to be placed in the easiest of all four groups.

Nzalang Nacional still did well to make it to the quarter-finals, sharing spoils with Congo and Burkina Faso before defeating Gabon in their final group fixture.

Equatorial Guinea were in turn pitted against Tunisia in the quarter-finals, and they appeared to be on the verge of elimination, with their opponents taking a one-goal lead into extra time.

However, the hosts then received a big gift from the referee, who pointed to the penalty spot, with Javier Balboa converting to take the game into extra time before scoring the winner some ten minutes later.

Equatorial Guinea will have bigger fish to fry in the semis when they face Ghana, but they can be backed at 3.40 (12/5) to make it to the final.

Coach Esteban Becker has no fresh injury worries at the moment, and is unlikely to make changes to his starting line-up.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Ovono – Randy, Mbele, Rui, Sipo – Boula, Zarandona, Ellong, Balboa – Nsue, Fabiani.