by Prince Narkortu Teye



I f there was any reason to be distraught, then there’s every reason to be optimistic. Ghana’s defeat in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final ignited a bundle of anguish that had not be seen for a long time in Ghanaian soccer circles.

A 9-8 defeat on penalties, following a 0-0 stalemate after extra time against Ivory Coast, means Ghana will, at the very least, have to wait for a further two years to end what will now be a sprawling 35-year trophyless drought at senior level. That the Black Stars had surrendered a 2-goal advantage at the early stage of the shoot-out only further confirms the pain.

It pricked, it pierced, but, after some reflection, there is no reason to worry. Fear not, Black Stars. AFCON 2015 also leaves in its wake a presaging parcel of optimism looking forward. After much soul-searching, here are five reasons why Ghanaians should look on the bright side after AFCON 2015….

SEE ALSO: Boubacar Barry – saluting the quiet hero of Ivory Coast’s long and painful road to glory

1) No trophy = lingering urge to prove a point

It’s no secret the Black Stars have quite a reputation for disappointing when the stakes are high. You wouldn’t exactly be wrong to partly attribute Ghana’s gallant showing to the seemingly measured expectations after a disastrous 2014 World Cup. What’s more, for a team embroiled in an Operation-Win-Back-Love campaign in the hope to calm the waters, you can easily find the sync.

Knowing Ghana, victory on Sunday would have ushered in a premature sense of fulfillment. The extra desire to fight for more would have drained instantly. The Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports would have wasted no time blowing their own horns for a crowning achievement, despite the cache of controversies that still lies unresolved following a shambolic participation at the World Cup.

Fair to say everything would have been swept under the carpet. Even with a much younger and inexperienced side with even lesser expectations, Ghana reached the final of the 2010 AFCON. Surely, 2015 couldn’t be any news. That, the Black Stars, the GFA and the sports ministry know too well. To weather the storm, they’re aware they’ve got to achieve something bigger.

While they flounder in their bid, Ghanaians can be assured of even more explosive performances from the Black Stars under an even better administration.

2) Old and new sparkle in a vibrant new team



It would be a tournament to remember for AFCON debutants Daniel Amartey, Baba Rahman, Razak Brimah and Cambridge United loanee Kwesi Appiah. Though Afriyie Acquah already boasts a World Cup appearance under his belt, he very well fits into this bracket. With poise and determination, these players showcased just why opponents should be wary of the Black Stars in future assignments.

While 20-year-old FC Copenhagen’s Amartey picked up consecutive CAF Fair Play awards in Ghana’s opening two matches, Baba, also 20, showed just why he’s been a revelation for FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga this season. New Sampdoria acquisition Acquah, 23, capped an impressive outing with a CAF Man of The Match performance in the final showdown against the Ivory Coast.

Some more established names wouldn’t miss the chance to make a statement too. Though just 23, Christian Atsu had, before AFCON 2015, seen a massive dip in form since joining Everton on loan via Chelsea last summer. That many questioned his inclusion in the AFCON squad gives a clear indication of the reactions that would be upon his naming in Ghana’s starting XI for the opener against Senegal.

Atsu had been seen as the next true playmaker Ghana never found since Abedi Ayew, his nosedive predictably sending flushes of apprehension in the hearts of many. However, with an AFCON 2015 Most Valuable Player award in the bag, Ghanaians can at least breathe a sigh of relief.

SEE ALSO: AFCON 2015 Best XI – Just Football’s all-star team of the tournament

While Andre Ayew struggles to impress on one side, he continues to prove that he’s quite the real deal when it comes to tournament football with an AFCON 2015 Goal-king award. John Boye’s commanding displays also cannot go unmentioned.

3) The Avram Grant effect

Without a doubt, Avram Grant has exceeded the ‘do well’ mandate he had been given. Within just two months, the 60-year-old has been able to transform a team with a rotting reputation into a fearsome one.

Certainly, the Black Stars didn’t do themselves any good with their uproar in Brazil. Performances had begun to ebb in what would be a shaky performance en route to AFCON 2015. Questions had come one too many about the level of discipline in camp. The team had begun to lose its fear factor and respect as an A-list side in the game.

Thankfully, that’s not the case anymore. With an unsuccessful go at an unpopular 3-5-2 system, the Israeli was quick to revert to the traditional 4-4-2 formation. He would urge the players to play for the team, their families, the nation – not for themselves. Even off the field, he would ensure his camp stayed clear of the ‘distractors’ that usually characterise the team’s bases.

Just three months into his 27-month contract, Ghanaians now have a sense of direction as the Black Stars attempt to qualify and possibly win the 2017 AFCON as well as qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

4) Good team spirit and team effort: the swagger is back!

“This was the best group I’ve been involved with for a long time. The future is bright,” midfielder Rabiu Mohammed stated on his official Instagram page on Wednesday. There’s no denying the importance of a good team spirit and what it brings. Juxtapose the above from Rabiu, also a member of the World Cup squad, to Kevin-Prince Boateng’s after the World Cup fall-out and therein lies the dichotomy.

“It was not a real team, not a team,” Boateng had said. “Everyone was busy with himself. Each made the other bad.”

The camaraderie and unity didn’t only show in Ghana’s many selfies. It manifested on the pitch too. They fought together with zest, played with passion, their confidence would hike from game to game. After the World Cup, they were tagged mercenaries. Now, Ghanaians can be sure we have a group of players who will play for the nation, the jersey and everything it symbolises. That’s something to smile about.

SEE ALSO: Best dance moves! Cult hero! Other Stuff! Just Football’s AFCON 2015 awards

5) The future is bright



If Ghanaians were disappointed not to win the AFCON, it means they felt their team was the better side. If they had felt that way, it means they had seen something. Now that’s certainly a lot to build upon. The outburst couldn’t have been paroxysmal.

Ghana’s squad had captain Asamoah Gyan and keeper Fatau Dauda as its oldest members. Gyan would lead, he would inspire, but he’s still only 29. Ghana’s average age of 24 offers hope for the future.

Qualification for the 2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup begins in a few months. Grant, for sure, now has a fair idea about the players at his behest. There’s ample time to completely mould the team into a unit of his own too. Add to the current crop players like Kwadwo Asamoah, Majeed Waris, Jeffery Schlupp and Adam Kwarasey and you have a team blessed with a fair balance of youth and experience. You also can never rule out Kevin-Prince Boateng’s return. Cheer up, Black Stars. The future is bright.