Black Stars road to redemption: African Nations Cup glory over World cup participation

Ghana prides itself as a footballing nation, a country once dubbed the Brazil of Africa.

In Football, the likes of Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Sammy Kuffour, Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah have made a telling contribution to enhancing our image on the world stage.

The Black Stars (as the senior national football team is affectionately called) boasts of 4 African Nations Cup trophies (1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982) and an impressive 3 consecutive World Cup appearances (2006, 2010 and 2014).

As a member of both CAF and FIFA, playing in both respective bodies organized competitions (African Nations Cup / World Cup qualification and tournaments) raises emotions, sparks debates and simultaneously triggers a sense of patriotism among citizens. 

However, the million dollar question is; would we (Black Stars) rather be an African Champion or just a World Cup participator?

African Nations Cup

On 19^th March 1982 Ghana lifted its 4^th and last nation’s cup trophy. Same year the Computer was named as Times man of the year.

 A staggering 34 years on, this great footballing nation still awaits its 5^th nation’s cup trophy. Having come agonizingly close in 1992, 2010 and 2015 (runner up) whiles observing other fellow heavy weights such as Egypt (7),Cameroon (4) and Nigeria (3) surpassing ,equaling or drawing closer respectively.

Failed quests to win continental glory either by;

1)      Co-hosting (Nigeria) and hosting in 2000 and 2008 respectively,

2)      Possessing a good team with arguably two of our greatest players in recent time (Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah) during 1996 (South Africa),

3)      Sammy Kuffour‘s purported indiscipline in 2002 (Mali)

4)      No show in 2004 (Tunisia), Courtesy a 49th minute Jimmy Gatete winner in Rwanda during the group stage qualifiers which ended our hopes of making it to the tournament.

Have been painful, distressing and heartbreaking for the avid Ghanaian football fan.

However, Gabon 2017 presents the stars with a great opportunity to overturn this recurring misfortune.

World Cup

On 12^th June 2006, Ghana played its 1^st ever match at a FIFA World cup vs. The Azzuri’s of Italy.

Since the competition’s inception in 1930 (Uruguay), A renowned footballing nation of Ghana’s calibre had to wait 76 years to make its maiden appearance. Prior to achieving this, the Black Stars had their fair share of setbacks; shocking key world cup qualification loses to football minnows such as Liberia and Burundi cost the Black Stars places at Italy 1990 and USA 1994 respectively.

Also, during qualification for the 1^st world cup to be held at the Far East (Korea/Japan 2002), the team was made up of a contingent of local based players predominately from Accra Hearts of Oak. 11^th March 2001 our game against Nigeria in Accra which ended in a stalemate (0-0), Coach Jones Attuquayefio fielded an all local team, dropping the foreign-based players whom he and soccer fans accused of indiscipline and lack of dedication. Indeed, all but one of the players played for Accra Hearts of Oak. (Fast forward) Germany 2006, we finally made it to our 1^st world cup and gave a good account of ourselves and did the continent (Africa) proud.

There has been no turning back, qualifying consecutively to South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. In 2010 (South Africa), we almost made history by being a penalty kick away (forget about Suarez’s hand ball, Gyan should have scored that penalty) from qualifying to the semi-final as the 1^st ever African representative there. In 2014 (Brazil), we were everything opposite of 2010 (South Africa); Exiting in the group stage, subjecting the country to international ridicule by flying over $3 million in physical cash from Ghana to the players to prevent a revolt.

African Nations Cup Glory over World Cup Participation

The aftermath of the Black Stars 2014 world cup on field and off field debacle has severely dented the image of the team, support and interest has sunk to an all-time low. With a country experiencing economic challenges the general perception about participating in FIFA organized competitions include a waste of the tax payer’s money and an avenue for officials and players to make a fortune. However, the undeniable fact is these football competitions bring joy to every Ghanaian irrespective of their tribe, social status, religious and political affiliations. There is a lingering fear our chances of making it the World Cup in 2018 (Russia) are all but over, barring an unlikely slip by Egypt. History reminds us, failure to qualify for the African Nations cup in 2004 (Tunisia) motivated the Black Stars to make their maiden appearance at the World Cup in 2006 (Germany), hence our near impossible chance of making it to the 2018 World Cup (Russia) must motivate the team to win the African Nations trophy in Gabon (2017).

 (Banter)

Every Arsenal fan (including myself) is honestly bored with our top 4 Premier League accomplishments and subsequent champions league participation without making any impact in that competition, I would rather we win the Premier League and not perform in Europe, than to place 4^th and not deliver in the champion’s league. In the same light, every black stars fan/supporter would choose winning the African Nations Cup over qualifying for the World Cup just to make up the numbers.

Dear Black Stars, Your road to National redemption commences in Gabon (14^th January 2017 – 5^th February 2017); Go big, or come home. Else, you’re wasting our time and limited resources.

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Twitter: @Terence__Wood