The thunderous applause that greeted the Black Stars’ last two training sessions at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi after an initial hostile reception on their first day, has revived the team’s confidence ahead of tomorrow’s AFCON 2015 qualifier against the Cranes of Uganda and renewed the love with their loyal Kumasi fans, confident of a win to placate Ghanaians after an unimpressive showing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
But that renewed friendship between the Stars and the Kumasi fans could partly be due to the presence at the Baba Yara Stadium of the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye. The physical presence, together with his men at the rest of the training sessions, brought calmness and a refreshing confidence to the team.
Riding on that confidence, Coach Kwasi Appiah is upbeat about a repeat of the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations final in Accra, when the Stars defeated the then dreaded Cranes 2-0 to lift the trophy for the third time and for keeps.
Admitting at a press conference of not being familiar with the style of play of his opponents, Coach Appiah said, “football is now about systems and it is not always necessary to have seen the style of play of once opponent”’
He reckons that playing against the former East African giants could be herculean, but takes solace in the fact that his charges are resolved to appease Ghanaians, some of who have lost interest in the team after the Brazil debacle. And that this is a charge the players themselves want to keep.
From Asamoah Gyan to Andre Dede Ayew to John Boye, confidence runs high through the team with every player on top of his game at training sessions which have been robust throughout.
Skipper Gyan told journalists the team looked stronger now because there was no factionalism as being speculated. “We are united and there is only one camp in the Black Stars," he said.
The Ugandan side have been quiet since the fixtures were announced, especially their game against the Stars. But that could even make them more dangerous because they may just be planning to ambush the Ghanaians.
Ghana has a superior record against Uganda, having won three out of seven clashes between them and suffered two losses since 1978. However, it has been five long years since the two sides clashed, with the Stars running away 2-1 victorious in a friendly international played in Tamale on May 31, 2009.
Following their ignominious exit from the World Cup and the negative publicity they have since courted over acts of indiscipline and bonus row in Brazil, the Stars are fully aware that the only way to rally the nation behind them will be to win convincingly tomorrow and earn a decent result against Togo in Lome on Wednesday.
