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•President John Dramani Mahama (middle) in a group picture with players and officials of the Black Stars.

Black Stars win back Ghanaians’ confidence — President

An elated President John Dramani Mahama says although the Black Stars did not win the ultimate in the just ended AFCON 2015, they have won back the confidence of the nation.

In recent years, the Stars had carried the national pride with stupendous performances on the world stage. But that pride of place among Ghanaians was lost following the team’s disappointing showing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and reported acts of indiscipline by the players.

Speaking at a presidential breakfast for players and officials of the team at the Flagstaff House yesterday, the President said the apathy showed by Ghanaians towards the team in the run-up to the Nations Cup was only natural because of the disappointing performance they showed in Brazil.

"So when the AFCON started, many Ghanaians were still not ready to forgive the team.

"But it was at the time that the nation had lost all hope that they proved that they were still the team to bet on," the President said, adding that the stupendous performance had restored the confidence of Ghanaians in the team.

After exceeding the expectations of Ghanaians at the just-ended tournament, a confident President Mahama said he believed the Stars would be the team to beat at the next tournament in 2017.

The President announced a cash reward of $25,000 for each player of the squad -- the package coming from the team’s headline sponsors, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) -- and spoke about his deep faith in the team’s ability to conquer the continent again. "I can see a great future for this team," declared the president who recognised the tremendous transformation in the team during the short spell of Coach Avram Grant.

The Israeli trainer was one of the biggest recognitions of the President at the ceremony.

"The nation has all confidence in you to groom the team to win the next Africa Cup of Nations and make respectable showing in the next World Cup," Mr Mahama told the Israeli trainer, who took charge of the team last December.

The players and officials arrived at the Presidency well composed and in a relaxed mood -- a far cry from the dejection boldly written on their faces last Sunday after losing the Nations Cup final to Côte d'Ivoire after a marathon penalty shootout .

They looked hearty as they dined with the president and his vice, and shared jokes with many others who found themselves inside the Banquet Hall of the Flagstaff House where the hour-long ceremony took place.

Many of the players turned up at the event even though a few others had already returned to their foreign clubs.

The players, who were led by captain Asamoah Gyan, included Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Daniel Amartey, Afriyie Acquah and David Accam. 

Others were Edwin Gyimah, Fatau Dauda, Razak Braimah, Ernest Sowah, Solomon Asante, Frank Acheampong and Christian Atsu, who was voted Player of the Tournament.

Expectedly, a wild applause greeted the announcement of the monetary reward, particularly after the President added that other corporate sponsors had also lined up attractive rewards for the squad.

GFA President, Kwasi Nyantakyi, and the management team of the Black Stars also received plaudits from the President for the “wonderful job" they did.

The Vice-President, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, set the ball rolling for the breakfast meeting, saying the performance of the squad had exorcised the ghost of Brazil 2014.

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