World Cup 2014: Ghana preparing to make impact - Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah

Published on: 11 March 2014
World Cup 2014: Ghana preparing to make impact - Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah
Ghana will do well at the 2014 World Cup, says Ghana's sports minister

Ghana Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah is confident the team will prepare in the right way for a successful World Cup.

The Black Stars reached the quarter-finals in 2010, where they lost in penalties to Uruguay, and are tipped to do well in Brazil this summer.

Ankrah told BBC Sport: "Preparation determines everything and the players know what is at stake -they are ready to bring honour to the country.

"The team is unified and I believe they will make Ghana and Africa proud."

Kwesi Appiah's side were emphatic 7-3 aggregate winners over Egypt in the African play-offs to reach Brazil and many are expecting the team to make a big impact at the finals.

But they face a difficult task to emerge from Group G, having been drawn against Germany, Portugal and United States.

Ankrah, though, believes Ghana's fate lies in their own hands and insists the determining factor in whether they are successful will be the the work they put in before the tournament begins.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure that the team is in good shape," he said.

"We will camp in Holland and the USA, play four friendlies and then proceed to Brazil. Everything is on course, the spirit of the team is very high.

"Input determines output and I have been saying this right from the beginning. Success is not automatic, you don't just achieve because you wish to.

You must put in the effort, you must pay the price and I have been drumming this home right from the time we qualified.

"I believe that the message has got through to every player, the technical team and the Football Association.

"A lot of people are looking to Ghana as representatives of the continent.

"A lot will depend upon the effort an input we put into the preparation. Through hard work, sacrifice and input we will get results."

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