The Sunderland player, who is nursing a calf injury, failed to train for the second straight day with the Black Stars, who have set up a five-day training camp in Kenya in preparation for the Congo game, and a friendly against England at Wembley on Tuesday.

"I am feeling some pain. I have to see the team doctor to certify whether I would be able to play or not," Muntari told AFP, adding: "Even if I don't play in Congo, it is important to be with the team at this time".

The former Inter Milan star, who was forced to limp off with the leg injury early in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last Sunday, was released by his English club after pledging his commitment to turn out for the Black Stars in the two matches.

Ghana lead Group I with four points from two matches, and a lot hangs on the outcome of their game in Congo with regards to their qualifying for the 2012 Cup of Nations finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings visited the team at their training at Nairobi's Kasarani stadium to give them some tips on how to score penalties to win matches.

Rawlings, who is the African Union special envoy to Somalia, said he was much disturbed by the way Ghana bowed out of the 2010 World Cup finals after being eliminated on penalties by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.