Stars’ time for glory

A mentor and his protege are both thinking alike as Ghana inch closer to kiss the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time down south tomorrow after dismissing arch-rivals and tournament favourites Nigeria in an energy-sapping semi-final clash last Wednesday.

After a 32-year wait, trophy-starved Ghanaians need a major silverware to revel in, and the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow presents a lifetime opportunity for promising Coach Maxwell Konadu to etch his name boldly in the letters of gold just like his senior colleague and inspirer, Kwasi Appiah, historically delivered the Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket last November.

Even when the local Black Stars made a heavy weather of the tournament, Konadu remained positive that it was his time to make a name for himself by winning the CHAN trophy for Ghana.

And as glory beckons, the twin emerging technical minds seem to have conspired to rob Libya of the badly-needed title in much the same way their forbears denied their North African counterparts the Nations Cup title 32 years ago in Tripoli when Appiah was merely a promising defender.

To show extra commitment to the national cause, Coach Kwasi Appiah, who has been in South Africa throughout the tournament, has been playing a dual role of an advisor and financier to help realise the long dream.

Tomorrow’s final has a semblance of the maiden edition in 2009 when Ghana had to play DR Congo at the group stage and in the final as well, with the first encounter going 2-0 in Ghana’s favour, while the Congolese replied Milovan Rajevac’s men in the same measure to win the trophy.

The only difference this time around is that the first clash between the two Group C opponents failed to produce a winner after a stubborn Libyan side cancelled an early lead by Yahaya Mohammed in their second group fixture.

The formidable opposition notwithstanding, Kwasi Appiah still believes Libya cannot stand in Ghana’s way, while Coach Konadu insists his team is destined to win the nation’s first CHAN trophy. 

Of course, none can begrudge the two technical brains after a 10-man local Black Stars survived 120 minutes of fireworks against Nigeria, only to turn the tables via the lottery of penalty shootout in their favourite Bloemfontein base two days ago.

For the first time in the competition, the Ghanaians will be trekking and whether they will be good travellers or not will be determined tomorrow as they face the well-drilled North African side without defensive pillar, Kwabena Adusei, who took an early shower in the last game after 65 minutes after two cautionable offences.

In Adusei’s absence, Konadu might fall on Abeiku Ainooson who emerged match of the match against Nigeria after switching from the right back to the central defence or still start Alfred Nelson in the heart of defence in case Godfred Saka remains unfit for the final.

Konadu can count on a formidable line-up of Stephen Adams, Ainooson, Joshua Tijani, Nuru Sulley, Alfred Nelson, Michael Akuffo, Jordan Opoku, Asiedu Attobrah, Seidu Bansey, Yayaha Mohammed, and Theophilus Anobaah to give Ghanaians the last laugh tomorrow. 

Though the journey to the final favours Ghana, the manner in which the determined Libyans booked their final ticket via penalties after tying goalless with Zimbabwe cannot be downplayed.