Accra, March 31, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to maintain the current playing and technical team of the Black Stars ahead of the country’s participation in Qatar 2022 World Cup.
He said the determination, solidarity and team spirit exhibited during their matches in Kumasi and in Abuja, where the senior national team beat their Nigerian counterparts, the Super Eagles to qualify for the World Cup, was a sign of “greater things to come.”
“I am hoping that the technical team that has been put together for these two matches will at least take us through the World Cup itself…Mr Okraku, do whatever you can to make sure that the team stays together at least until Qatar, then afterwards, we can take the Long-term decisions,” he said.
The President gave the charge when the Management and technical team and players of the Black Stars called on him at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday.
The Black Stars Tuesday drew 1-1 with the Super Eagles in a grueling game at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Qatar later in the year.
President Akufo-Addo applauded the team for qualifying for the world derby, saying, “you have done very well, and the nation and I are very proud of you…our nation has been elevated by your performance,”
“You have lifted the spirit of the nation, and now the nation has a reason to look forward to Qatar. We want to have more reasons to celebrate in Qatar. We are all behind you,” he said.
The President, who turned 78 on Tuesday, said the Black Stars had put “the icing on the cake on my birthday, and I am very grateful,”
He stressed on Government’s commitment to resource and motivate the Black Stars to ensure they gave a good account of themselves in the tournament in November, which will be the country’s fourth showing in the FIFA World Cup.
“Whatever it is that should be done by the Government to resource the team, we would do it. Let us keep the hunger and determination we saw in Kumasi and yesterday going, I know something greater would come out of it,” the President.
Mr Kurt Okraku, the GFA President thanked President Akufo-Addo for his personal commitment to the success of Ghanaian football.
He was grateful to the Government for providing the Black Stars with all the needed logistical and financial support for participating in the qualifying stage and eventually clinching a place in the world cup tourney, assuring that the GFA would ensure that the Black Stars gave a good showing in the tournament.
GNA