Ghana Football Association boss Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has revealed how undiluted support and Unity of purpose played a key role in Ghana's success over Nigeria in the 2022 FIFA World Cup play offs in March this year.
The first leg in Kumasi ended goalless, and goals from Thomas Partey and William Troost-Ekong ensured the return game also ended all square to leave the tie at 1-1 on aggregate after 180 minutes, but the Black Stars claimed the ticket to Qatar 2022 on the away goals rule.
This will be Ghana’s fourth World Cup tournament and sees them return to the tournament after missing out on the 2018 edition in Russia.
"When Ghana was paired to play against Nigeria, there were a lot of doubting Thomas, but I remember my words to our warriors in the changing room of the Baba Yara Sports stadium after the game that ended 0:0," Okraku said.
"One of the phrases I used is that, we are Ghana and regardless of the score line in Kumasi, we will go to Abuja and make history. In the end, we showed that we are Ghana".
"Because we had undiluted support from every one of you, our countrymen and women, from the President of the Republic and our Sports Minister".
"That should tell all of us that individual players don't win, individual talents don't win, teamwork wins and if it is that we all work as a team, we will always win this and on all occasions that we have won trophies, we showed our ability to stay as a unit and as a family".
"This quality has never deserted our country. At all times, when the chips are very low, Ghana shows up as a family and we made it on 29th March as a family".
"Everybody in this country responded to my clarion call to wake up and support the Black Stars because it is the only national football team we have. We realized that when the whole country was united behind the Black Stars, it had a multiplier effect on the adrenalin of the players and they showed it on the pitch. In the end, it was not Nigeria going to the World Cup but its Ghana and we are Ghana," Okraku added.
Black Stars have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
Black Stars will play Switzerland in an International friendly on November 17, before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.