Black Stars can’t win AFCON 2017 - JusticeFMSports Editor

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Justice Sports Editor has cast doubts in the Black Stars’ ability to win the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the fifth time in Ghana’s history.
Abubakari Yussif says unlike others who are being nationalistic to say that Ghana’s senior national team can conquer Africa at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, realistically, the best of the Black Stars will be a semi-final appearance.


“If I am to speak as a Ghanaian, I would say the Black Stars can win but if I am to be realistic, the best for them will be the semi finals. It hurts to say that but that is the truth” he said.
The former Guan United goalie noted that the current crop of players who recently called on the new Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to increase their bonuses are not committed and do not have the nation at heart, a situation he said could affect their performance at the tournament.
“At this crucial moment when they should be thinking of how to win the trophy, the players are rather talking about bonus increment. Our players now see the call to national duty as an avenue to make money” Abubakari Yussif told Justicefm.com in an exclusive interview.
The four time African champions have reached at least the semi-final stages of the competition in the past five editions, including the painful penalty shootout lost to the Ivory Coast at the Finals of the last edition in Equatorial Guinea.
Many including the Moroccan coach, Hervé Renard who was the coach of the Ivorian side that beat Ghana to win the trophy at the last edition have said that with the current crop of players, Ghana can win this year’s edition which begins on the 14th of January.
But Yussif said Ghana cannot win the tournament if they don’t change their attitude and improve on their performance.
“I don’t think Ghana can win the trophy, our performance has been abysmal of late and our players are not even getting play time at the various clubs but with a change in attitude and improved performance during training sessions, our chances of winning might just improve” he said
He explained that “our best players, Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan get little playing time at their teams now, they don’t get playing time there, apart from Christian Atsu, Jordan Ayew and Daniel Amartey who are playing regularly for their clubs, the rest of our players are not used too often by their clubs”.
Yussif who himself was once invited to the Black Satellites as a goalkeeper said unlike the Ghanaian side, most of the participating countries have had their players improve in the past two years, playing regularly at club levels.
He also believes the presence of Cote d’Ivoire, winners of the last AFCON and Egypt who recently showed dominance over Ghana during  their World Cup qualifier in Egypt late 2016 poses a threat to Ghana’s success.
“Remember that Cote d’Ivoire who beat us at the last tournament to win the trophy are in again, this time with an improved side. Don’t forget Egypt are there too with a very strong side which has already beaten Ghana in recent times”  Yussif noted.
The Black Stars of Ghana are in Group D with Egypt, Uganda and Mali and will kick start their campaign on January 17 when they come up against Uganda.

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