Managing News Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt says Black Stars players opted to participate in the AFCON because they see it as an opportunity to make money.

He, therefore, said it came not as a surprise to him that the Black Stars lost their Group C match to the Teranga Lions of Senegal.

Speaking Tuesday on Peace FMs morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Mr Pratt said “we all know that the Blackstars will lose. Anyone who did not know this is not a Ghanaian. These people have clearly demonstrated that they are playing the football just for the money and not to make the country proud.”

The Blackstars made their Group C debut at the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea but lost 1-2 to Senegal in Mongomo.

The loss has angered several Ghanaians and football lovers many of whom were already not confident the team will pull off a brilliant performance.

In Mr Pratt’s view, the best thing, the country should have done to prevent such disappointment, was to have dissolved the team when it performed abysmally at the 2014 World Cup tournament held in Brazil.

Instead of doing this, the Ghana Football Association decided to sack the coach and replace him with a foreign one, he added.

“The total lack of indiscipline displayed in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup is the same thing they are doing but instead of dissolving the team, they sacked the coach.”

The veteran journalist said the total disrespect and intolerance showed local coaches is unacceptable because, the foreign coaches were not better than the local ones who have shown that they are capable of executing their task just as well.

He indicated that there were several local coaches who could have managed the Blackstars and that “a foreign coach will not score goals, discrimination against our own must stop.”

He however blamed the lack of commitment on the part of the players to the country’s refusal to support veteran footballers who have in the past sacrificed their lives for the country.

Most of these old players who have retired are left to suffer even though they dedicated their youth for the country and should be supported at their old age.

“The way, we treat our heroes, is nothing to write home about”.

He said governments' failure to provide basic medical care for these people has not encouraged the young players to give off their best because, they believe that even if they did, they will be no reward hence their desire to make the most of the moment.

Mr Pratt says he doubts if the country will put up an impressive show at the tournament.

Meanwhile, Black Stars coach Avram Grant says the team is focused on winning their next game against Algeria despite the jerky start at the AFCON tournament and that the team is hopeful.