A former Chairperson of the Ghana Football Association, Lepowura Mohammed Nurudeen Jawula has entreated Ghanaians to reduce the harsh criticisms being meted out to the Black Stars for their performance at the ongoing AFCON 2021.

According to him, the rampant condemnation of the senior national team kills the morale of the players.

“We should open our eyes. Ghanaians should tone down on some of the issues and some of the things that we say that don’t encourage our players because people are sacrificing to play for Ghana.

“People talk about them, people insult them and I think it is time for us to begin to say things that will encourage everybody,” he said on JoyNews’ The Probe.

Mr Jawula was also of the view that some of the veteran players must be inculcated into the technical team to boost the morale of the senior national team.

“I think that the old footballers should be more aligned or attached to the team it helps a lot,” he said on Sunday.

The Black Stars last won the trophy in 1982, where they beat host nation, Libya on penalties.

Since then, the West African side have managed three final appearances, falling short on each occasion – the recent being the 2015 loss to Ivory Coast on penalty shootout.

Thus, prior to the AFCON 2021 tournament, Ghanaians looked forward to a splendid performance by the Black Stars to end the 40-year drought.

However, after the first two games of the players, the glimmer of hope in the team has waned.

Whilst others blamed the coach, Milovan Rajevac for his lack of tact in directing the players, some accuse the Football Association for disorienting soccer in the country.