Ghanaian football legend, Mohammed Polo, is optimistic about the Black Stars’ performance in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and predicts a semifinal appearance for the national team.
The Black Stars, eager to end a 42-year trophy drought, had a disappointing outing in the previous AFCON edition, exiting during the group stage in Cameroon.
Polo, a key figure in Ghana’s 1978 AFCON victory, expresses confidence in the current Black Stars’ form, foreseeing a strong performance leading to a spot in the semifinals.
“With the team’s current performance, I think they can reach the semi-finals, but it will be difficult to win the title,” Polo conveyed in an interview with btolat.com.
As the team intensifies its preparations at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex at Abrankese, Polo emphasizes the challenging nature of winning the AFCON title but remains positive about the Black Stars’ campaign.
The Black Stars will engage Namibia in a friendly game at the Baba Yara Stadium on January 8 before heading to Ivory Coast on January 10. In Group B, Ghana will face Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique in the tournament, with the first group match against Cape Verde scheduled for January 14, 2024, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Subsequent matches will be against Egypt and Mozambique on January 18 and January 22, 2024, respectively.