Let us cheer the Black Stars to victory

At 10 p.m. today, the Black Stars once again come face to face with the Yanks in a crunchy encounter in Brazil 2014.

This encounter is particularly critical in Ghana’s third attempt at ruling international football.

In our earlier two attempts, although we did not get the coup-de-grace, we demonstrated to the entire world that Ghana is a powerhouse of soccer on the African continent and the global stage.

But for the wicked denial of a semi-final berth at South Africa 2010 when Luis Suarez handled the ball in the goalpost, Ghana would have been in the finals.

The pain of that loss to Uruguay was felt not only in Ghana but also on the entire continent and beyond, as Ghana was considered the African dream at the 2010 Mundial.

Indeed, when the other four African teams could not make it beyond the group stage, the entire continent rallied behind Ghana to carry the African flame aloft.

Later today, Ghana begins the march again to global fame in football.

It is not going to be an easy game against the United States of America (USA), as we are told their technical team has been plotting Ghana’s defeat by even spying on our training programmes.

Their coach, Jurgen Klinsman, one of world football’s greats, should not be taken for granted. 

And that is why Coach Kwesi Appiah must dig deep into his rich experience as a player to put in place the necessary tactics and strategies to defeat the USA once again to make our dominance over them undisputable.

Football, we know, has no form guide. That is why Spain was humiliated by The Netherlands, the team the Spaniards defeated to lift the World Cup in 2010.

So far, the matches that have been played indicate that there will be no minnows at this year’s tournament. Teams that had taken early leads to Brazil 2014 and had appeared complacent have had themselves to blame.

There are lessons to be learnt from what has happened so far and the only way for Ghana to live the African dream is for our players to remember that the whole country and, indeed, the African continent are looking up to them to make the continent proud.

We know that by now the players are very familiar with the popular dictum: “Success comes only through hard work and sacrifice.”

With that at the back of their minds, they must be prepared to die a little for Mother Ghana.

The mood of the nation back home shows that people are not ready for any failure or excuse. Ghana is at the crossroads in search of solutions to many development challenges and a defeat today (God forbid) will dampen the spirit of the people.

We have all bemoaned the extreme partisanship in our society since 1993, but sports, particularly soccer, has brought the bitterest political opponents together to champion common aspirations. 

Some Ghanaians are sceptical of our chances, but majority believe that Ghana will rise to the occasion.

For every Ghanaian and, indeed, the Black race, the success of Kwesi Appiah in Brazil 2014 will prove to the whole world that Africa is capable of holding its own against the rest of the world.

The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on every Ghanaian to rally behind the Black Stars by hoisting the national flag on their cars, in their offices and homes and sporting anything that represents the soul of the nation.

Ghana looks forward to this game with hope. It will be tough, but with hard work and God on our side, we shall prevail over the USA and subsequently Germany and Portugal at the group stage.