Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Abukari Damba, has challenged the senior national team to go the extra mile to secure victory when they face The Gambia in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier tomorrow.
A trained coach, Damba expects a difficult encounter at the [venue] but believes the Black Stars have enough quality to overcome the threat posed by the Gambians if the players approach the game with determination and discipline.
Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, Coach Damba said The Gambia would be highly motivated after winning their opening game and would approach the match with a clear determination to collect maximum points.
He noted that the Scorpions of Gambia were also aware of Ghana’s pedigree in African football and would, therefore, adopt a different approach to frustrate the Black Stars and secure a positive result.
“The Gambians will come well prepared because they know what Ghana is capable of. They will come with the hope of winning, or at least picking a point, so we have to go all out and fight for the victory,” he said.
With Ghana missing some experienced players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, Coach Damba believes the situation presents an opportunity for the younger players to justify the confidence reposed in them by coach Carlos Queiroz.
He said the absence of the experienced trio should not be used as an excuse, but rather serve as motivation for the emerging players to prove their worth.
“We don't need to cry over spilled milk. We have good replacements and this is an opportunity for them to be counted. They need to show up,” he stated.
Coach Damba said the Black Stars had the potential to beat The Scorpions but cautioned that achieving victory would require a disciplined approach, particularly as the players could become overexcited in their desire to win.
“It is going to be a tall order, but we have the potential to beat The Gambia. They cannot fail Ghanaians,” he noted.
He further warned the players against abandoning their tactical instructions in their eagerness to attack, saying a lack of concentration could expose the team to unnecessary danger.
According to him, while the Black Stars must show the desire to win, they should remain patient, disciplined and focused on the instructions of the technical team throughout the game.
