Performance Of The Black Stars

Ghana Black Stars, last night exhibited another resilient performance to beat the Bafana Bafana of South Africa two - one to qualify for the quarter finals of the 30th edition of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. 

It was also the first time the Stars have beaten their South African counterparts in an African Cup tournament. Though the Stars' last two group matches were tough, the players and the technical team must not lose sight of the fact that the more they progress in the tournament, the tougher the matches will be coming. 

Ghanaians have every reason to jubilate over the Stars' victory. But football connoisseurs  or analysts say the Black Stars must continue to vary their tactical play and formation to outwit their opponents. So far, so good but the Black stars have insatiable fans at home who have been waiting for a fifth African Cup trophy. 

Since 1982 when Ghana won its last African trophy in Libya, the team in1992 and 2010 got to the final but lost out to the Elephants of Cote d'ivoire and the Pharoah's of Egypt. The task given to Coach Avram Grant by the Ghana Football Association is to do well in the tournament. 

While a cross-section of Ghanaian football fans agree with the FA, others think that the Black Stars must win the tournament. 

The character and fortitude displayed so far by the Black Stars must be maintained and even raise it a notch higher as the tournament enters the knock-out stage after tonight's last Group 'D' match. 

Those Ghanaians who doubted the capabilities of the current Black Stars team in the tournament must be revising their scripts. Though they are not playing the champagne football associated with Ghanaian National teams, the Black Stars are chalking-up vital victories for progress.  

Let us keep praying for the team and support the players to keep giving off their best. Avram Grant has so far proven to be a listening coach, so Ghanaians expect him to do some changes especially in attack in order to sustain pressure on the defence of their opponents. 

Debutant Kwesi Appiah has proven to the Ghanaian teeming fans that he can partner Asamoah Gyan upfront to deliver the goals. Well done so far but more room for improvement.