Kingson is wary of the Black Stars' Group D opponents
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson believes the Black Stars will have to survive Africa's "most competitive group" if they are to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The west Africans are bidding to progress to their second consecutive World Cup finals and will need to top Group D ahead of Mali, Benin and Sudan in the final phase of qualifiers if they are to succeed.
"Every group is strong this time but I think Ghana's is stronger than the rest, if you look at the collection of teams," Kingson, who plays for English Premier League side Wigan Athletic, told BBC Sport.
Ghana's most serious rivals look likely to be Mali, especially after The Eagles' comprehensive 4-0 victory over Angola last month, but Kingson claims the group's smaller teams are also capable of taking points off the favourites.
"It is the most competitive group in the Africa zone. Benin and Sudan are not of Ghana's standard but they are the best of the third and fourth seeds.
"They are the most proven teams from that level over the last couple of years that we could have got and Benin will be a test for us in Kumasi on Sunday," said Kingson.
Our final game at home to Mali will be the decider, because they are an extremely good team, so we need to win as many games as possible before that
Richard Kingson
Milovan Rajevac's side stuttered through the previous round of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations but Kingson is hopeful Ghana will raise their game when the final phase gets underway this weekend.
"Over the last two years Benin have been very good and that makes it hard to predict anything," said the former Galatasary and Birmingham City stopper.
"But if we prepare well I am expecting us to beat any team that comes our way and to qualify for the World Cup.
"Our final game at home to Mali will be the decider, because they are an extremely good team, so we need to win as many games as possible before that."
Africa's five group winners will progress to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 with the top three going to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola next January.
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