The President of the Ghana Football Association Kurt Okraku, has urged the entire nation to rally behind the technical team of the Black Stars as they prepare to compete in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Speaking at the squad announcement press conference held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Monday, December 1, 2024, President Okraku stressed that support and positivity are essential for the team’s success at the tournament.
“Coach Chris Hughton and the rest of the backroom staff need your support, and I am extremely happy that all of us are here. It’s a signal of our commitment towards offering this technical team and our players our undiluted support,” President Simeon-Okraku expressed.
“Ivory Coast is possible. We have seen top-performing teams fail at big tournaments; we have seen less experienced and un-fancied sides win big tournaments, so it is possible.”
“Again, whether in good times or in bad times, all of us here in our dear country called Ghana have only one senior men national team called the Black Stars. And we are the Black Stars, and we are Ghana,” he added.
Ghana, making their 24th appearance at this year’s tournament, previously clinched the title in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982. The Black Stars have finished as runners-up three times since their last victory in 1982. They lost to Ivory Coast in the 1992 final, yielded the title to Egypt in 2010, and suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast.
The tournament will kick off from January 13, to Sunday, February 11, 2024, with Ghana facing Cape Verde, record holders Egypt, and Mozambique in the group stage.