The BlackStars secured their ticket to the AFCON 2023 making it their 10th successive and 24th in general since the commencement of the tournament in 1957.
The senior male team topped Group E with 12 points from six games which saw them qualify for the tournament slated for neighboring, Cote d’Ivoire.
Some years ago, the love the BlackStars used to court was sensational, the whole country rallied behind them during game days and thereafter. The love back then was pure and unadulterated.
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Following the happenings at the World Cup in Brazil, in 2014, and other culminating factors the love dwindled and has yet to peak up again even though, the current President Kurt Okraku has taken steps to reignite the love it hasn’t yielded positive dividends.
Their participation at the AFCON 2021 didn’t go as planned, in a group that had Morocco, Gabon, Comoros, and Ghana, everyone held the strong opinion that if for nothing at all, the BlackStars would be one of two sides to advance past the groups stages, but in a shocking turn of events, they were bottom with a point and a goal deficit of two goals.
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Fast-forward, the BlackStars will hope to make amends for their years of poor showing at the AFCON.
In this piece, I will enumerate some possible factors that could sway in favor of the Black Stars to do well in the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
THE ANDRE AYEW FACTOR
If there is a player who has held his guard for all these number years, it’s the captain of the Black Stars, Andre Ayew. Since he made his debut at the AFCON in 2008, when the tournament was stage on home soil. He has gone on to make, 8 and played 34 games within that interval. If anything inspires, hope and belief, it’s his sheer longevity, experience, and composure in playing through the many travails that he has faced with the national team. The team will count on him when the going gets tough and hopefully, he turns up when push comes to shove.
MOHAMMED KUDUS
A look around most football countries that have performed well or won a trophy with their country on the continent comes down to the sheer brilliance of one or two players that combine arsenals to spur their respective countries on to victory. Sadio Mane helped Senegal to victory, in 2021, Salah has been on the losing trail in the finals of 2017 and 2021, Sunday Mbah with Nigeria in 2013, and others.
Since Mohammed Kudus’ move to WestHam in the English Premier League, it’s been one blockbuster performance after the other drawing loads of praise from his peers, club manager, ex-footballers, pundits, fans, and numerous well-wishers beyond the globe. He has been on a roller-coaster until a small injury kept him out of club football but on a bright note he has been able to shake that injury off which should see him play a vital role in Ghana’s opening game against Cape Verde.
CHRIS HUGHTON
The ex-Brighton manager is coming into a rather unfamiliar territory. His first stint with an African side, BlackStars as well as his maiden participation at the AFCON 2023. Before, he has handled nine games, winning four, losing two, and drawing three but these stats have not impressed many who have watched his side play in these games.
There have been several questions as to when the team will play some good football, win and boss games convincingly, be an attacking threat in games, and have a structure, or pattern to which the team plays but sadly it’s been one question after the other with little or no answers. This trend was getting on the nerves of some football people calling for his immediate dismal but for some unseen powers, he has had his job preserved and intact in the lead-up to a tournament that, the country is looking to end its 42-year trophy drought. The hope is that; he reposes the confidence those unseen hands have in him at the AFCON 2023.
A YOUTHFUL SQUAD.
When Chris Hughton named his initial 55-man squad list which was later whittled down to 27 for the AFCON. The notable absence of deputy captain, Thomas Partey was evident. Still, his absence was due to an injury he failed to overcome in time to cut, high flying Greek-based Baba Rahman and Fatawu Issahaku asked to be excused from the squad for varied reasons. A chunk of the players (19) named for the AFCON by coach Hughton are making their inaugural appearance at the tournament. The inclusions of Ernest Nuamah, Inaki Williams, Majeed Ashimeru, Elisha Owusu, Mohammed Kudus, Osman BukarI, and Antoine Semenyo spoke volumes of the depth in quality that the team possessed and could hurt any opponent should they be deployed best to their abilities.
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The long absence of a major trophy in the cabinet FA by the BlackStars should spur this current crop of players to hunger more to quench the thirst for the AFCON silverware.
The four-time AFCON Champions will open their account against Cape Verde on January 14, serial AFCON winners, Egypt four days later, and their last of group games against, Mozambique on January 22, 2024.
