Italian coach Marcello Lippi is in Port Said, one of the venues of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (CAN) tournament, to monitor Ghana, who are in the same group as the Azuris in the 2006 World Cup finals slated for Germany.

Lippi watched the Black Stars of Ghana lose 0-1 to Nigeria here Monday.

But he said the match was not enough to draw conclusions on Ghana, who will clash with Italy in the World Cup opening Group F match 12 June.

The Italian coach insisted that Ghana's loss to Nigeria did not reflect the true performance they were capable of.

"Chelsea star Michael Essien and Udinese's Sulley Muntari's absence through injury affected the team's performance in the match," Lippi said, adding that he would still follow Ghana's next match against Senegal on Friday before leaving for Italy the following day.