Ghana hope to pick all the spoils with victory in their Group D clash against Mali at the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Assistant Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah who was squad member of the Ghana team that won the last Cup in Libya in 1982 says the competition continues to get tougher as no team can be underrated.

"Before the Botswana game we knew it was going to be tough going in Group D and coming with the tag of favourites the other teams would be keen to catch us cold and knock us out," Appiah told Caf's official website.

"Luckily we came through with 3 points from the Botswana [game] but now against Mali we have another tough match ahead. We will try to break down their defence and try and get some goals. Mali is a good team. Our boys are motivated and the camp is buzzing with unity and the boys now what is at stake."

With the shock exit of pre-competition favourites, Senegal, now a reference, Appiah admits that football on the continent has improved greatly and that Ghana would take cue from that.

"I was surprised with what happened to Senegal and l thought they would recover from the first loss but it wasn’t to be. I wondered why they seem to play relaxed and only stared to play after they were down.

"I don’t know exactly what it was down to but it has made our team stay even more focused and we tell them football is developed on the African continent and all over so you cannot underrate anyone anymore.

"We have watched these games here with our players are aware there are no lesser teams, so Mali will be treated with utter most respect and we will seek to give a through performance against Mali," he said.