Afcon 2019: Let’s pay Ghana back with the trophy – Black Stars coach

Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah has charged his players to repay the efforts of the president and nation on the team with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The trainer of the Ghana senior national team said this in an acknowledgement of government’s immense support towards ensuring that they end the country’s 37-year trophy drought at the Egypt 2019 finals.

“I believe in my players and technical team. We are not going to let the nation down because we know what’s at stake,” coach Appiah stated during a farewell meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House Thursday night.

He continued: “It’s been years and it’s not the best so my players, this is a task that we all need to go out there and make Ghanaians proud.

“Since December, His Excellency has involved in making sure everything that we need is provided so we have to make sure we pay back to make him and the whole nation happy.”

YEAR OF RETURN

The President also urged the Black Stars to see this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as a “year of return” for the trophy to Ghana who last won it in 1982.

“I am determined to provide all the support government can give to sustain you, and give you the best opportunity to bring the cup home.

“I have no doubt you are among the best players on the continent of Africa and in the world. So, your slogan, is the “Year of Return”, that’s the slogan of the year. This indeed is the year of return (of the Afcon trophy),” President Akufo-Addo declared.

The president also urged the players to seize this Afcon opportunity to write their names in gold and be counted among the football greats of our country.

The Black Stars leave Ghana for pre-tournament preparations in the United Arab Emirates on June 1.