CONQUER CAMEROON OR FADE FOREVER
The champions of the ongoing AFCON 2019 will be awarded $4 million, runners-up will get $2 million, semi-finalists, $1.5 million, etc. As to how much has been budgeted for the Black Stars for this tournament, we don’t know yet. The team has always faced financial issues which has led to serious problems like disunity among players and the authorities of the team. But that is not my focus today even though it is part of why the Black Stars have not been able to win any trophy for thirty-seven (37) years now.
The Black Stars of Ghana at 5 pm today will face the national team of Cameroon, The Indomitable Lions, in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Black Stars drew their first game in the competition against Benin.
Broken heart appears to be more painful than the sweetness love brings which is why it appears the Black Stars have let down their fans, Ghanaians more times than they have made them proud. But, to be fair, the team has done some good and brought some joy and unity to Ghanaians.
The once enthusiasm with which Ghanaians watched and cheered the national team every time, they played any game has almost if not completely faded away. Indeed, it is not just the national team that has lost its lustre in the eyes of Ghanaians but the entire Ghana football if not sports due to the purported actions of the embattled Uncle Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former head of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and his colleagues as expose by Anas’s Number 12. The days when the unity, joy,
Dede Ayew, captain of the Black Stars
This AFCON will either help the Black Stars win back the hearts of Ghanaians or forever fall into oblivion. But for the seeming display of ineptitude over the years, this would not be the first time Ghanaians have had to bring their classroom mathematics to bear during competitions like this. The excuse has always been that the team starts slowly and then warms up into the competition. But now, one draw and almost all hope is lost. Well, was there hope to begin with?
1982 was the last time the Ghana Black Stars won the Africa Cup of Nations after their 1963, 1965 and 1978 trophies. Apart from the four trophies, the team has reached finals and semi-finals of the same competition several times without any good luck to crown their efforts with the ultimate victory. Some individuals who still had hope in the current team prior to this competition hoped that the team will do all it can to bring this trophy home. Today’s game will show us our stance.
The comments of Coach Kwesi Appiah suggesting that he is not afraid of being sacked I believe came at the wrong time. It is just like when the failures of students are attributed to their teachers and their success to the hard work of the students. Even though he has a point when he said that the failures of the team are almost always blamed on the coach and the victories on the players. This is the time the entire team needs the support of everyone without any discouraging words.
Truly, I still believe in the Black Stars. I believe in the captaincy of Dede Ayew just as I believed in the captaincy of Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah. I believe that the current players would also like to win the cup. Winning the trophy adds up to their own personal story and rich profile.
If the Black Stars underperform in this tournament, the team will completely fade away. They need to give of their best which should be enough to win the trophy or forever be silent in seeking the support of Ghanaians.
YUSSIF AHMED
ahmed.yussiph@gmail.com
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