President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday afternoon met the technical team and players of the Ghana Black Stars at the Jubilee House.
The meeting was necessitated by the Black Stars’ qualification to this year’s World Cup tournament. Ghana secured a spot on Tuesday evening after playing 1-1 draw with Nigeria at Mooshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
In attendance at today’s meeting were; Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, and representatives of the media.
Speaking to the Black Stars, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his objective to ensure head coach Atto Addo assumes a permanent role with the senior national team.
According to the President, he is impressed by what has been exhibited so far by the technical team.
He assured of government’s commitment to provide the Black Stars with the needed support to ensure their victory at the World Cup.
“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, however, said “the rest is up to you. But what I’ve seen, I know that a lot of good things are ahead of Ghanaian football. Welcome to the seat of the presidency and I congratulate you on behalf of the 31 million people in Ghana for the great feat.”
The President believes that the events that took place after the match, indeed tell that the Black Stars have been in and out of the lion’s den.
After Black Stars’ victory, events at Moshood Abiola Stadium turned chaotic. Fans of the host country ran onto the pitch, vandalising whatever property they could lay their hands on.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Sports, Mr. Mustapha Ussif, said the senior national team showed togetherness during the matches against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and in Abuja.
“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 also used the opportunity to thank President Akufo-Addo for his support towards the Black Stars preparations for the World Cup qualification.
“I will like to thank you, your Excellency for your personal commitment towards this process and eventually our qualification. You ensured that every financial and logistical need for the Black Stars were met. You opened your doors to me without hesitation and on all discussion towards the Black Stars.”
On his part, the GFA President, Kurt Okraku, recounted the hostile treatment meted to the Black Stars in Abuja. However, he said the Black Stars exhibited a fighting spirit never seen before and came out victorious.
“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.
Mr. Okraku expressed optimism in the Black Stars advancing far into the latter stages of the World Cup tournament and making Ghana proud.
“This is just the beginning of perhaps an interesting and promising future for our dear country,” he added.
Head coach, Otto Addo, thanked his predecessors for the good work done and thanked all 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.”
The Black Stars arrived at the Kotoka International Airport yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, the African teams booked for the 2022 FIFA World Cup include; Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon.
Source: Joy Sports
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