Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations title obsession goes on
Posted On Wednesday, 17th October 2012
Kwesi Appiah says he will win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title
It is a conversation Ghana has been having every two years since 1982 and it centres on winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
And yet, Ghana’s Nations Cup trophy count of four has stayed the same for the last 30 years, despite reaching the final in both 1992 and 2010.
In 1982 Egypt had won only two trophies – they now have seven – while Cameroon’s then empty trophy cabinet now holds four African crowns.
Moments after Ghana sealed qualification with a 1-0 win to complete an aggregate 3-0 victory over Malawi, coach Kwesi Appiah started what will be a national obsession over the next few months.
“I won the Nations Cup as a player in 1982 and I want to win it as a coach,” he said. “We will go there and try to win it.”
Ghana has reached the semi-finals of the last three tournaments, losing to Egypt in the final on Angolan soil two years ago.
Ghana’s Nations Cup record since last title
- 1984: First round
- 1986-1990: Failed to qualify
- 1992:
Runners-up
- 1994: Quarter-finalists
- 1996: Fourth place
- 1998: First round
- 2000: Quarter-finalists
- 2002: Quarter-finalists
- 2004: Failed to qualify
- 2006: First round
- 2008: Third place
- 2010:
Runners-up
- 2012: Fourth place
In South Africa in January, Ghana FA chief Kwesi Nyantekyi says the target is to not just go one step further for Black Stars fans – but for the entire West African region as well.
“Since 1994 no country from West Africa has won the Nations Cup and for a region that is supposed to be the talent base of African football that is not good enough,” he told BBC Sport.
“We are determined now to change that and in my meetings with the players, that is one of the things I tell them.
“I have told them that their period in the national team will count for nothing without a major trophy.
“We are all very keen on and that and will do whatever it takes to win.”
To achieve that, coach Appiah reckons he must get two key areas right between now and January’s finals – with Ghana set to learn their opponents when the draw is made on 24 October.
An accomplished left back in his day, Appiah reckons there are issues with both the full back slots.
He also has concerns over his strike force with Asamoah Gyan having looked burdened in recent games by the responsibility of scoring the goals.
Ghanaians express their frustration as the Black Stars lose the 2010 Nations Cup final
Like most members of the squad, Gyan says the constant reminders of Nations Cup failures are getting to the players – especially after the highs of reaching the last two World Cups, reaching the quarter-finals in South Africa two years ago.
“It is frustrating for us,” he said. “Every day we get reminded that we have not won a major trophy despite putting Ghana on the map with what we have done at the last two World Cups.”
Meanwhile, coach Appiah says the fact that the whole country desperately wants Nations Cup success is not pressure.
“I will put it as a challenge because Ghanaians are used to the Cup of Nations and they want a trophy now,” says a man who will be the first local coach to lead Black Stars at a Nations Cup in over a decade.
“I have to pick players who are prepared to die for the nation and win. We just don’t have to go to the competition, we have to go out there and try to win it.”
The problem for Appiah is that former coach Goran Stevanovic said exactly the same thing ahead of this year’s finals and despite a strong start, his side’s fourth-place finish eventually led to his dismissal.
By: Michael Oti Adjei, BBC Sport
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I believe we can win it because individually, we have very good players. But without proper tactical guidance then it will be a wishful thinking. The truth is it is not only the full backs and striking positions which are problematic. Of late the midfield appears to have lost it touch and focus. I also believe Emmanuel Clottey and Waris must be given their chances. It will also be helpful if Christian Atsu’s full potential is utilised by playing him behind the lone striker if we are playing a 5 man midfield. He has the talent to run at people and lay on the killer pass or score himself as Messi does. Defenders can only stop him by bringing him down in the 18. And we know what that means. Wish the boys all the best.
very good kenneth. In Those games appiah wants to play a lone striker, I think it should be Kwadwo Asamoah on left, followed by Andre/Atsu, then derrick/Annan/Essien, then Badu on the right. Atsu/andre plays supporting role behind the lone striker.
DROP INKOOM. DEREK BOATENG N PAINSTIL WERE AT AFCON 2012. WAT DID THEY DO FOR GH? THESE 2 ARE THE NEW MATHEW AMOAH N ERIC ADDO. BAN THEM FROM GBSTAR PLS. FOR CHRISSAKES! THEY HVE NO BUSINESS GOING TO AFCON. U HVE HAD UR TURN. OPARE N AFFUL MUST COMPETE FOR THE 2. ALL ABEYIE FOR THE 7
drop who???, mate this one paa your wrong DB is a calming influence in midfield and has passing abilty and control of the centre very few have in Ghana so on that one your wrong.
And on painsil im far from a fan but I must say he played well in our last game and if you saw Opare in the first leg you will say Painstil looked like the best RB you have ever seen, so him back is now not a major issue for me. What I rather feel is david Addy needs a run of games at left back despite Afful doing well for club he actually does not play left back for them and I think the balance is right when he plays there.
Also clottey and waris have to also get serious mins, not at AFCON when sum1 gets hurt you now bring them in.
Lattly every tournement it is always good to have a rookie, why is ghana so passive MEMPHIS DEPAY needs to be contacted ASAP before he commits to holland and be brought for AFCON he h=is a star in the making.
I doubt we will win. Ivory coast has better players, south africa has home advantage,we all know what a determined zambia can do, nigeria our old rivals is back and finally all the teams that qualified deserve and want to win. Its gonna be tough.
How many times have you Ghanians failed to qualify to AFCON. 9ja here we come
Hate to agree with anan up there, but the begining of wisdom is humbleness, our football association is all over the place screaming we shall win.
One criteria AA should use in choosing his players should be committment to die for GH.that hunger is a self motivation that will propel the team to win the cup.just playing regularly in europe shouldnt be the only criteria.2ndly, I like the zeal with which the players who played the game in Malawi.He can add Jordan,Boakye-Yiadom & few to that squad.
AA can bring the cup if he changes his desire for Inkoom & Derick.They have been our weakest link.
IF AA WANTS AFCON…S3 WOP3 AFCON TROPHY NO, A WINNY AAA….LOL
IF AA WANTS TO WIN THE AFCON, HE SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING
WE HAVE NEVER WON AN AFCON TITLE WIN A BUNCH OF FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS NOR COACHES. WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY RELYING ON AA, A LOCAL GUY,
BUT WE MUST CAUTION AGAINST THE USE OF 100% FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS. THE AFCON SQUAD SHOULD BE 50/50…
NO ONE WANTS AA TO FAIL. WE ARE SEEING POTHOLES IN HIS GAMEPLAN, HIS TACTICS AND STRATEGY, DURING GAMES AND WE ARE MAKING HIM AWARE.
IT WILL HELP HIM IF HE CAN CONSULT DESAILLY AND DIDI DRAMANI DURING THE AFCON TOURNEY
ONLY A FOOL NEVER LISTENS LIKE PLAVI AND MILO. WHERE R THEY NOW?
EGYPT WON THE AFCON TRIPLE WITH LOCAL COACH, LOCAL PLAYERS, ZAMBIA DID IT WITH MOSTLY LOCAL PLAYERS. SPAIN WON THE WCUP N 2WICE EURO CHAMPS
WITH MOSTLY REAL MADRID N BARCA PLAYERS. THE LAST 4 EDITIONS OF THE AFCON TOURNEY WERE WON BY NATIONS WHO PARADED MOSTLY LOCAL
PLAYERS. CHECK THE FACTS, FOLKS! GH HASNT WON THE AFCON IN OVER 30 YRS BCOS WE CONTINUE TO FIELD FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS, FOREIGN COACH
TO EVEN AFCON TOURNAMNTS. THE NAME TAG IN YOUR CLOTHES WONT GIVE YOU A’S IN SCHOOL, BUT UR BRAINS. ETHIPIA N CAPE VARDE HVE PROLLY BEEN PLAYING
WITH THE SAME SQUAD FOR YRS. THEY CAN PROLLY EVEN PLAY TOGETHER AS A UNIT WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED. ASSEMBLING A BUNCH OF SELFISH, FOREIGN BASED
PLAYERS WHO ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR FOREIGN CONTRACTS, 3 DAYS BEFORE AN AFCON QUALIFIER IS SIMILAR TO COMMITTING SUICIDE. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
GH DIDNT BEAT MALAWI 12 NIL IN 62 BCOS WE ASSEMBLED OUR LOCAL PLAYERS 3 DAYS BEFORE WE PLAYED THEM. ITS BCOS OF OUR HIGH LEVEL OF PREPARATION AND WORK
ETHIC BACK THEN. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. WAT HAS CHANGED IS TODAY’S GFA AND THE WAY THEY DO THINGS.
CONGRATS TO COACH APPIAH ON THE QUALIFICATION, BUT IM NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR METHODS AND STRATEGIES AT ALL. THEY SAY A BIRD IN HAND IS BETTER
THAN 2 IN THE BUSH. FUCK DAT SHIT! I WANT THE 2 IN THE BUSH PLUS THE ONE IN MY HAND……
PICTURE OF 82 TEAM WITH THE TROPHY MUST BE IN APPIAH’S ROOM AND IN THE TRAINING ROOM
OF THE SQUAD AT THE TOURNAMNT. IF THEY SEE IT ENUFF, THEY WILL BELIEVE THEY CAN WIN IT.
APPIAH’S AFCON SQUAD SHOULD BE 50PERCENT LOCAL/AFRICAN BASED PLAYERS, 50PERCENT FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY HE CAN ASSURE
HIMSELF OF WINNING THE TROPHY. IF HE GOES IN FOR ALL FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS, WE WILL LOSE OUT AGAIN LIKE WE KEEP ON DOING SINCE 1982. ONLY A FOOL
KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING AND EXPECTS DIFFERENT RESULTS. HE NEEDS
THESE VETERANS PROVIDED THEY R FIT, IN FORM N INJURY FREE…JOHN MENSAH, ESSIEN, MUNTARI, ABEYIE, GYAN, IF WE R TO WIN THE AFCON TROPHY.
GET A FITNESS/WEIGHTLIFTING TRAINER FOR THE TEAM. CALL AGOGO
useless why make it this long. stupid bastard who will read it?
Why the insult?!
GH FUO ? No one will read such a long comment.
Guys we reached the finals in Egypt with barely no experience players at all.the coach needs to come up with a plan that will find us glory in south Africa simple as that.as far as players are concerned we are right there with ivory coast so I know 4 sure if the adequate tactics are put in place this trophy will not elude us again!
*in Angola rather.
Oh Ghana pliz we been waiting 4 dis cup too long,make us proud did time around!!