President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged the government’s full support for the Black Stars, as they qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup tournament.
He made the promise yesterday when he met the technical team and players of the team at Jubilee House.
Ghana secured a spot for the 2022 World Cup tournament on Tuesday evening after playing 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Abuja, having drawn 0-0 in the first leq at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
According to the President, he is impressed by what has been exhibited so far by the technical team.
“If the spirit that we have seen in these two matches and level of skills that have been demonstrated is kept together, the sky is the limit. Whatever that can be done on our side, government is ready to support and give you most agreeable and convenient background tools and resources to work with,” he said.
Team work
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, said the team showed togetherness during the matches against their Nigerian counterpart.
“Your Excellency, what we witnessed yesterday from the Black Star was a display of brotherhood to fight for a common purpose. In the face of adversity, the Black Stars stood together, trusted in one another, lifted one another and ultimately, lifted the entire country,” he noted.
He also used the opportunity to thank President Akufo-Addo for his support towards the Black Stars’ preparations for the World Cup qualification.
Hostility
The GFA President, Kurt Okraku, recounted the hostile treatment meted out to the Black Stars in Abuja, stressing that the team exhibited a fighting spirit never seen before.
“But the indomitable fighting spirit of the Ghanaian, led by an amazing technical team, kept our hopes alive. We fought and we ensured that we belong to that special group of a football nation – a special group which will truly represent our colours at the Mundial in November,” he said.
The head coach, Otto Addo, thanked his predecessors for the good work done as well as every individual who helped in shaping the Black Stars. “There was a long path before, and C.K. Akornor is part of this success as well as Milovan Rajevac and our captain Andre Ayew and other players missing today,” he added.