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Will Ghana's Black Stars do their favourites tag justice at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations?
If history is anything to go by, it is dangerous to keep touting the 1963 and 1965 champions as favourites because they often end up flopping when everyone expects them to shine
19 Jan 2012 09:59:00
ANALYSIS
By Kent Mensah
The last time a west African nation Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations was three decades ago. Ever since those finals in Libya in 1982, the Black Stars have only come close to adding to their tally of four titles at Senegal ’92 and Angola 2010, where they finished runners up in both tournaments.
The four-time African champions deliver when everyone least expects them to do so. The team has disappointed at times when their local fans have held them in high esteem. Thia is exactly what transpired in Egypt 2006 when a spirited Black Stars squad took an early shower from the continental showpiece courtesy of lowly Zimbabwe.
Just when everyone had ruled Ghana out of the 27th edition of the Nations Cup in Angola, because the country was heading into the competition with a heavily punctured and inexperienced squad, the Black Stars paved their way to the final, but lost to seven-time champions Egypt at the last hurdle.
If history is anything to go by, then it is dangerous to keep touting the 1963 and 1965 champions as favourites for the next edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The west Africans have to tread cautiously and must not allow complacency to creep into their mentality just because giants such as Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt could not qualify this time around.
Ghana have been drawn in Group D with Botswana, Mali and Guinea. Botswana are making their debut appearance, but appear to be one of the most motivated sides judging from their output during the qualifiers.
They lost only a single game and finished on top of their group with 17 points ahead of Tunisia and Togo - teams with Afcon pedigree. Ghana will have to look out for Botswana’s Jerome Ramatlhakwane, who bagged five goals during the qualifiers and will be on a mission to cause an upset when the two sides meet.
Guinea did not lose a single fixture in qualifying. They were the stumbling block to west African giants Nigeria. They finished Group B on 14 points to sail through. Mali also topped their pool ahead of Zimbabwe so in essence it is a group of champions with an equal starting point for every side to prove their mettle in Franceville.
"Every country is good now so it will not be easy for any team to win," former Cameroon captain Rigobert Song warned the Ghanaians in an interview with Ghana network Joy Sports.
"All these new countries in the tournament can cause a surprise and if that happens it will be good because we will know that African football is improving and not for a few countries."
Coach Goran Stevanovic and his charges have the potential to live up to the tag as favourites, but the presence of Ivory Coast and Senegal makes matters difficult for them. Success will not come as easy as many people are arguing. That positive label has not done the four-time African champions any good since preparation towards the tournament failed to improve.
Theoretically, the Black Stars are champions-in-waiting since they have been one of the most consistent sides in recent years, but the team needs a great deal of concentration and discipline in order to make their mark.
Ghana can do their favourites tag justice if they reflect over Marcel Desailly’s statement: “We have to be very careful in saying for sure that Ghana will win. Mali is a difficult country.
"Senegal have surprised everybody and Zambia is also potentially capable to do something and after you have all the other names including Ivory Coast who are always very powerful. Let's be motivated, concentrate and be clinical; find our target and hit it."
Follow Kent Mensah on
By Kent Mensah
The last time a west African nation Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations was three decades ago. Ever since those finals in Libya in 1982, the Black Stars have only come close to adding to their tally of four titles at Senegal ’92 and Angola 2010, where they finished runners up in both tournaments.
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The four-time African champions deliver when everyone least expects them to do so. The team has disappointed at times when their local fans have held them in high esteem. Thia is exactly what transpired in Egypt 2006 when a spirited Black Stars squad took an early shower from the continental showpiece courtesy of lowly Zimbabwe.
Just when everyone had ruled Ghana out of the 27th edition of the Nations Cup in Angola, because the country was heading into the competition with a heavily punctured and inexperienced squad, the Black Stars paved their way to the final, but lost to seven-time champions Egypt at the last hurdle.
If history is anything to go by, then it is dangerous to keep touting the 1963 and 1965 champions as favourites for the next edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The west Africans have to tread cautiously and must not allow complacency to creep into their mentality just because giants such as Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt could not qualify this time around.
Black Stars | Asamoah Gyan and Co. must face a great deal of expectation
Ghana have been drawn in Group D with Botswana, Mali and Guinea. Botswana are making their debut appearance, but appear to be one of the most motivated sides judging from their output during the qualifiers.
They lost only a single game and finished on top of their group with 17 points ahead of Tunisia and Togo - teams with Afcon pedigree. Ghana will have to look out for Botswana’s Jerome Ramatlhakwane, who bagged five goals during the qualifiers and will be on a mission to cause an upset when the two sides meet.
| That positive label has not done the four-time African champions any good since preparation towards the tournament failed to improve, with less than a month left until the games begin |
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Guinea did not lose a single fixture in qualifying. They were the stumbling block to west African giants Nigeria. They finished Group B on 14 points to sail through. Mali also topped their pool ahead of Zimbabwe so in essence it is a group of champions with an equal starting point for every side to prove their mettle in Franceville.
"Every country is good now so it will not be easy for any team to win," former Cameroon captain Rigobert Song warned the Ghanaians in an interview with Ghana network Joy Sports.
"All these new countries in the tournament can cause a surprise and if that happens it will be good because we will know that African football is improving and not for a few countries."
Coach Goran Stevanovic and his charges have the potential to live up to the tag as favourites, but the presence of Ivory Coast and Senegal makes matters difficult for them. Success will not come as easy as many people are arguing. That positive label has not done the four-time African champions any good since preparation towards the tournament failed to improve.Theoretically, the Black Stars are champions-in-waiting since they have been one of the most consistent sides in recent years, but the team needs a great deal of concentration and discipline in order to make their mark.
Ghana can do their favourites tag justice if they reflect over Marcel Desailly’s statement: “We have to be very careful in saying for sure that Ghana will win. Mali is a difficult country.
"Senegal have surprised everybody and Zambia is also potentially capable to do something and after you have all the other names including Ivory Coast who are always very powerful. Let's be motivated, concentrate and be clinical; find our target and hit it."
Follow Kent Mensah on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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Botswana - South Africa
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Botswana 1-1 South Africa
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