This will be an unusual qualifier for the present generation of Black Stars.

An acting coach, a nation lukewarm in its attitude towards them, a game at a neutral venue against opponents whose minds may be on other things apart from football all sets it up for what should be an odd evening in Cassablanca.

Guinea have always run Ghana close but have often lost by the odd goal. In that sense, the 2015 Nations Cup qualifier, their home game which is being played in their adopted home would not represent the greatest sporting challenge to the Black Stars.

At best it will be one of those intensely contested games decided by the odd mistake, that one moment of brilliance. There are a lot of clichés in that line but it has often been the case with Ghana-Guinea games. What is different this time is the unique circumstances surrounding it.

First assistant coach Maxwell Konadu will take charge of Saturday’s game after his boss was fired. That boss, Kwesi Appiah we are told had lost the dressing room so in that sense it will be interesting to see how his deputy will regain it granted there was any grain of truth in that pile of nonsense.

One of the trends of modern football has been to hinge games on the theory that it influences something really important. That view is true of two different scenarios for this Ghana-Guinea game but first let’s tackle the myth.

It is that Maxwell Konadu is in some sort of audition for the Black Stars job with the two games beginning on Saturday. The theory is that if the Black Stars win and play well first in Cassablanca and later in Tamale, he will force his bosses into a rethink about appointing a new coach for the national side beyond him.

That is entirely false. While Konadu may win himself a lot of public support and even friends within the football association, there is no chance of him changing the view within the body that the Black Stars job has come too soon for him. It will be pretty much like the case of Sellas Tetteh who did a brilliant job as stand in coach after Claude Le Roy left in the first half of qualifiers for the 2010 world cup but was never considered for it on a full time basis.

The other hinge for this game though has held true many times. It is the tale of football players who emerge as heroes and give a country with its spirits down something to cheer about. It is a task the sport has often performed with a lot of credit. Liberia comprehensively beat Ghana in a 2002 world cup qualifier and in that Guinea dressing room, Frenchman Michel Dusseyer will be drumming that message home.

Guinea is one of three countries battling the ebola epidemic. It is so bad they can’t play at home and so bad one of their own players Lass Bangoura, abandoned ship and went back to his club side because his club mates feared being with his countrymen will increase the risk of catching the disease. Bangoura is the kind of sportsmen you don’t need but those Guinea players who have stayed behind in Casablanca will know that victory will provide a country with its spirit and mood bleak at the moment something really positive to be happy about.

And they have the personnel to be able to do it. Bangoura may be gone and former Hull City defender Kamil Zayate, Kevin Costant of Trabzonspor constitute a trio of players unavailable for the game through injury but they still remain a strong force.

They will also be acutely aware that to remain in the race for a place at the 2015 Nations Cup, they must go into the final two games with a realistic chance which will mean not losing what is effectively a home game.

For Ghana the dynamics are simple. The Black Stars have dropped two points already but four out of a possible six is a good return. Konadu will in that sense simply will seek to let that good run continue. And that attitude could reflect in his picks for who plays. It is unlikely Fatau Dauda will get his number one spot back which means Stephen Adams should start again as he did against Togo. Daniel Opare’s return provides Konadu with something to think about in terms of the right back slot but Harrison Afful has always proven a better option there given the quality of his final balls.

A key decision for Kondu will be who to play alongside Jonathan Mensah. Kwabena Adusei is new to the set up but a man Konadu knows well while Awal Mohammed remains another option.

And with Majeed Warris struggling for form recently there could be the temptation for Konadu to play him as an ace from the bench.

Whatever choices he makes, the Black Stars will be keen to come away with a win and history has suggested in away games, without the burden of home crowds they can be brilliant.  You have to hope Saturday evening is one of those days.