Black Stars Game Against Portugal In 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Ghanaians and for that matter Africans football fans are sitting on tenterhooks awaiting the fate of the Black Stars after today`s final World Cup group game against Portugal. 

 And as usual, the calculations,  permutations and wishful thinking which have been the assignment for the more than twenty-four million Ghanaian Coaches have reached a crescendo. 

Ghana finds itself in an awkward position at the World Cup. This is because, after forcing a grueling 2 - 2 draw with Germany last Saturday Ghana was hoping for a Portugal win against the U.S.A., so that they beat Portugal in today`s match, and make it to the round of  sixteen. 

 But that game also ended in a 2 - 2 deadlock. For now Ghana must beat Portugal and pray that the Germans also beat the U.S.A.  

If the Germans lose or draw in this match, Ghana will be the third African nation to bid farewell to the Mundial after Cameroon and Cote d`voire.  

Obviously, Ghanaians will once more be taken through another psychological exercise, a phenomenon which is gaining notoriety as far as the Black Stars and tournaments are concerned.  

It is however the hope of Ghanaians that the Stars will keep their heads up, having received the three million dollars promised appearance fee they were clamouring for, which led them to threaten  to boycott training . 

 It is amazing how much football has metamorphosed – Gone are the days when dorning the national colours was a source of unbridled  pride and ecstacy, as patriotism was at its peak. 

 In this age however, most players earn huge sums of money playing for their clubs, but the level of commitment dwindles when it is time to chart the national course.  

The motto now is "my pocket first".  Some of the players including Captain Asamoah Gyan, Michael Essien and Kwadwo Asamoah do not earn less than one hundred thousand pounds sterling a week.  

The players must not lose sight of the economic challenges that currently confront the nation, although they are entitled to the packages.  

Though the team  will miss the services of Midfielder Sulley Muntari due to suspension, Coach Kwesi Appiah has indicated that he is not perturbed.  

He will field other players to showcase their talent and get the job done.  

The Portuguese, who are perennial under- achievers will certainly not be a walk- over.  That team has suffered some injury blow, but it is still a potent side that must be handled with all seriousness.

  The deadly duo in the Portuguese side in the persons of Christiano Ronaldo and Nani must be closelymonitored, because any form of loss in concentration can spell doom for Ghana.  

Also, Kwesi Appiah must deploy full backs with speed who must curtail crosses, because the Portuguese are noted for counter attacking and mostly use the flanks.  

Our attackers must equally make good use of every opportunity that come their way.  

The expectations are high, and we can not afford to exit the tournament in this fashion, after giving a good account of ourselves in the 2006 and 2010 editions.  

Ghana represents Africa`s hope, and we must take a cue from the Nigerians who have blazed the trail for Africa in qualifying to the next stage.  

After that performance against Germany, Ghanaians are optimistic that the Stars will triumph if they attach all seriousness to today`s game.  

For the religious, this is the time to invoke the spirits to back the stars in this important endeavour.  

As every blade of grass on the pitch soak the agility, skills, tenacity and sweat of the gallant soldiers, all the techniques and hardwork must be harnessed to give Ghanaians something sweet to savour in the end.  

We can only pray and hope that the Germans and the Americans will not play a match of convenience which will not be in Ghana`s interest.And to borrow the slogan of Accra Hearts of Oak, the Black Stars must "never say die until the bones are rotten". 

 Go Black Stars Go.

Source: GBC