The football populace and Ghana as a whole have been energised by the Black Stars’ qualification to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The fervor with which Ghanaians supported the team dissipated after the unprecedented AFCON 2021 fiasco.
It returned in overwhelming fashion however as the team was held by Nigeria to a barren game in Kumasi before the crunch 1-1 draw in Abuja.
That result handed us one of the five African slots at the tournament, which comes off in November. On Friday, April 1, we’ll know our group opponents when the draw is held. It will mark the start of our preparation that’s if we haven’t already began our plans for the competition. The celebration party would’ve to make way for deeply thought-out plans.
Having been to three World Cups from 2006, I expect us to be meticulous and diligent while learning from the various experiences especially the ignoble one – Brazil 2014. How riveting it would be if we bring back the South Africa 2010 glory if not at best, surpassing the quarterfinal berth in that historic tournament.
A lot will depend on what we do from now. I won’t bother to chew the cud at this time. We’ll have time for that but already the first gentleman of the land, President Akufo Addo, much to expectation, is urging the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to retain coach Otto Addo and the technical team for the World Cup.
These are decisions right on the lap of the GFA – tough decisions that could make or unmake us at the World Cup and other competitions. There’re no guarantees but the country’s interest must be paramount at every step of decision-making in our plans if we’re to make meaningful impact. Even if we don’t excel but good effort is seen, that maybe appreciated like we’ve presently done for Otto Addo ensemble.
Otto Addo, his support staff, the players and all who worked for our qualification deserve praise. They’ve made us proud. We’ve to take pride in the fact that, despite our football’s fundamental problems with pitches, refereeing, hooliganism, financing, etc., we’ve been able to grab World Cup spots – displacing some of the best teams on the continent since 2006. That, to the GFA, should be a pointer to what we can achieve if we get things right at various levels of the game’s development.
The latest feat by the Kurt administration shouldn’t just be a rightful election campaign ammunition but also, and most importantly, an added launch-pad to ensure growth as promised in the Game Changer Manifesto. Posterity will judge best how and what the GFA makes out of this World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, let the applause flow for Otto Addo ensemble.