The enormity of the Australia's Socceroos' task at the World Cup continues to grow after an under-strength Ghana stormed into the final of the African Cup of Nations.
Ghana, one of Australia's three group opponents in South Africa, qualified for its first African final in 18 years with a 1-0 win over Nigeria in Luanda to set up a decider against holder Egypt.
The Egyptians walloped an eight-man Algeria 4-0 in Benguela to extend its stunning 18-match African Cup unbeaten run and set up a shot at a third successive title.
It enters Sunday's (Monday Melbourne time) final as strong favourite, but Ghana will fancy its chances in a tournament that has provided its fair share of upsets.
Ghana's performance in Angola will be of serious concern for the Socceroos, particularly given its inexperienced squad has missed two of its best players, injured Chelsea star Michael Essien and Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari, for most of the tournament.
Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley, who has arrived in Angola for the Confederation of African Football conference, is likely to attendthe final in Luanda, but FFA has resisted the temptation to send any other scouts. Socceroos assistant Graham Arnold had intended to watchGhana 's opening game against Togo but his trip - and the opening match - was cancelled following the terrorist attack on the Togolese team bus.
Officials will have plenty of time to pore over video footage of Ghana and study its opponents in the five months leading up to the World Cup.
Australia must finish top two in its group, which also includes superpower Germany and fellow Europeans Serbia, to progress to the knockout stages.
Its second match against Ghana in Rustenburg is seen as crucial to its hopes of progression.
Striker Asamoah Gyan again proved he is likely to pose a major attacking threat to Pim Verbeek's side with a 21st-minute winner against Nigeria in their semi-final, his third goal of the African tournament. ''It's unbelievable,'' the Stade Rennais striker said.
''We are a young team and not many people gave us a chance of making the final.''
Ghana's Croatian coach Milovan Rajevic said his team was one that was willing to do anything to get the required result.
''I told my boys we were not going to play beautiful football today, we were going to play for a result,'' Rajevic said. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak saluted his team for a ''remarkable performance'' in its heated clash with Algeria, the side which beat it for a spot in South Africa.
Hosni Abdrabou scored a penalty, while Mohamed Zidan, Mohamed Abdelshafy and Mohamed ''Gedo'' Nagy also netted against an undisciplined Algerian side that had three players sent off.