In my young life as a football fan, I have had various opportunities to watch the AFCON tournament. Well, I think it might be around 2004 when I had my first taste of the tournament which was hosted by Tunisia, which the host won by beating fellow North Africans, Morocco.
From then, my love for the tournament grew in leaps and bounds. Every two years, I looked forward to it, and just when Ghana launched a bid to host the tournament in 2008, I was all for it with the hope that Ghana will win its fifth trophy on home soil. I mean around that time, the country was blessed with many talents like Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah, who in diverse ways were at the peak of their careers having returned from the World Cup in 2006, brimming with immense confidence heading into the competition.
I, like other Ghanaians, had high hopes for the team in 2008. So when the team were billed to face Nigeria, their fiercest rivals in the West-African sub-region, in the quarters it was clear the boys had one thing on their minds, victory, which they delivered on the plate for the home fans. But a difficult semi-final berth against the then four-time AFCON champions, Cameroon, saw Ghanaian hearts broken and shattered by an Alain N’Kong goal. That year, the Blackstars went on to finish 3rd as a consolation much to the disappointment of the teeming fans of the Ghana Blackstars.
Fast forward from 2010, Ghana has made two finals, (2010, 2015) and three semi-finals, (2012,2013,2017). These recent statistics have left many on tenterhooks asking when the once famed footballing giant will end its 44 years drought.
For me, I am getting disappointed like everyone that closely monitors the exploits of the Blackstars at the AFCON because, in the last few years, big countries like Egypt, Zambia, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria have all cemented their names in style and precision in the history books for their nationals to savour and brag about.
I am asking myself, what has been the problem for the Blackstars to winning the continent’s most coveted football trophy?
It’s evident Ghana does not possess the luxury in squad depth that the likes of Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Nigeria have at their disposal to make a huge statement in the competition. The truth is, most of the Ghanaian players are making their debut with the likes of Kudus, Kamal, Fatawu, Abbey-Quaye. But that said, there are a few familiar faces around the block; the Ayew brothers, Partey, Wakaso, Amartey, Mensah that coach Milovan can rely on when push comes to shove.
I can only hope that in a group with the likes of Morocco, Gabon and Comoros Island, it shouldn’t be difficult. No disrespect to the other group opponents, but the Blackstars have to navigate their way to the next round of the competition.
As I munch on some pastries and sip my chilled Tampico, I can only hope that this year might be different to the formers. The team is at an all-time low in fan support and motivation. A lot of key government officials have publicly said that it will be impossible to airlift supporters to Cameroon to support the team. Because of one too many disappointments and failures that the team has been faced with in recent times, the weight of expectations is not too burdensome on the team and that might just be the escape route they need to bring back the love if the tides of football sway in their favor.
