The Black Stars failed to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa

Ex-Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is certain the Black Stars will eventually turn their promise into trophies.

An inquest has begun after the Ghanaian national team failed to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Expectations had been huge ahead of the continental showpiece with fans confident the current generation of players were finally going to win elusive title.

But the team once again flattered to deceive after placing a disappointing fourth which has drawn massive criticism in the West African country.

It was the third time in four major tournaments that Ghana had crashed out at the semi-final stage.

On the other occasion, the Black Stars were beaten by Egypt in the finals in Angola 2010.

It is a sorry tale of woe for a country used to collecting prizes in the past  and means they have still not lifted a trophy since 1982.

However, the former Ghana captain is using Nigeria as the example of patience now being required.

‘It’s a very painful moment for all of us but I believe we must still remain patience with our players,” Appiah told Happy FM

“We all went there with huge hopes of winning the cup but unfortunately things didn’t go on well for us.

“We have to come back and take a stock of what happened and make the necessary corrections.

“I don’t think this is the time to apportion blame because no amount of blame-game will solve our problems.

“We have to look ahead to the qualifiers for the World Cup which is the biggest tournament in the world.

“The supporters have every right to express their disappointments but we must try as much as possible to measure it. We have to forge forward as country and move on.

“Nigeria had also not won for a long time and today they are the African champions. So we can do it together. We just must believe and keep working towards it.”

Now Ghana must lick their wounds and responds during a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan next month at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi.