For Ghana captain John Mensah, the nightmare of missing a crucial match may continue if his side is beaten.It is not exactly the kind of situation a host team would love to encounter, but it is here and Ghana will be without Captain John Mensah after he was red-carded following a mishap in the quarterfinal win over Nigeria.
Ghana needs to reshuffle their defense to cope with the absence of the suspended captain, with midfielder Sulley Muntari saying, "It's a big blow but we have to get on with it. That's just how it is."
Ghana coach Claude Le Roy has admitted that it will be difficult to adjust the defense, but has hinted Michael Essien might be used at centre back against formidable Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o.
Essien has scored twice in the last two games with his strong runs from the centre of midfield.
The tournament hosts also face the possibility of doing without striker Asamoah Gyan, injured in Sunday's match.
Le Roy, a Nations Cup winner with Cameroon 20 years ago, has already branded his team "heroes," but will need them to show even more determination against a combative Cameroon.
The Indomitable Lions were written off after a 4-2 defeat by Egypt in their opening group match, but have since stormed back with 11 goals in three games, including an extra-time winner against Tunisia in Monday's quarterfinal in Tamale.
Under German coach Otto Pfister, their playing style is more about physical power than finesse but it has been effective.
Striker Eto'o became the highest scorer in African Nations Cup history at this tournament although did not get a goal on Monday.
"It's not easy to play a team like Cameroon, they are physically very strong," Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre said after his side were knocked out by Pfister's men.
Cameroon are in their first Nations Cup semifinal since winning the tournament in 2002, while Ghana are through to the last four for the first time since 1996.
Both countries have won four previous Nations Cup titles, one less than record-holders Egypt.
Egypt meets the Ivory Coast in Thursday's other semifinal in Kumasi in what will be a repeat of the 2006 final in Cairo.
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