Jawula urges Black Stars to end AFCON drought

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Dec 26, 2021. 10:00

Ghanaian football administrator Lepowura Jawula has urged the Black Stars to end the country’s long wait for a fifth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship.

Ghana are four-time Nations Cup winners, making them the third most successful country in the tournament’s history behind Egypt (seven) and Cameroon (five), but their last continental triumph arrived way back in 1982.

That means that Milovan Rajevac’s Black Stars will be looking to end a 40-year drought when they compete at the upcoming AFCON, where they will face Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C.

Jawula, who serves as a senior member of the CAF Inter Club Committee and Chairman of the Ghana Premier League Management Committee, reckons this Ghana team has the potential to win the Nations Cup in 2022.

“I strongly believe the team has what it takes to splinter the trophy hoodoo, and the boys must remain focused and resolute on that mission. It is a possible mission,” Jawula is quoted by the Ghanaian Times.

“We see lots of youthful exuberance and experience in the current team, and once they get it right, there would be no turning back.”

However, he added that “breaking the embarrassing trophy hoodoo and Stygian silence, may probably go beyond player quality and team performance.”

Jawula continued, “The spirit of the nation must be behind the team. Every single Ghanaian must unite and support the team to victory.

“No matter what, the fans are simply indispensable. That’s why we need to have everybody on board and roll on like one big family.”

Ghana will open their AFCON campaign against the Atlas Lions of Morocco in Yaounde on January 10.