
Audio By Carbonatix
Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy has says Ghana as hosts of the 2008 Nations Cup have every chance of winning their fifth Africa title next year.Ghana is one of the favourites, having been the only side from the continent to reach the second round of last year's World Cup.Since the finals in Germany, Ghana have beaten Togo, Japan, South Korea and Nigeria in friendly internationals, raising hopes the Black Stars will win their first title since 1982."We have to win because if we don't, they will kill me," the Frenchman - half-smiling, half-serious, told BBC Sport."We know that Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast and maybe Mali have a lot of quality and huge potential."As hosts, we want to be at the top of the tournament and we know it will be very difficult - but we have the potential to win the Nations Cup next year."The players, the management and the entire country are behind us and they are trying to do everything to make us win."As part on their Nations Cup build-up, Le Roy invited five debutantes for Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Brazil in a friendly in Stockholm.The Black Stars were missing key players such as Captain Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien.Midfielders Anthony Annan, Bernard Yao Kumordzi, Michael Helegbe and defender Alfred Arthur were promoted from the country's Olympic team, with Ekow Benson coming from the under-17 side.Le Roy says many of the youngsters will feature prominently his future plans."I am very happy with their performances, especially Anthony Annan and Bernard Kumordzi, but all the players showed they are ready to play for the national team," Le Roy said."I am confident they will have a lot of playing time with the national team in future."With the quality they have shown, I think they will be very important to the future of the Black Stars."Ghana are trying to line up possible friendlies against Switzerland and Mexico as they continue their preparations towards next January's Nations Cup.Credit: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Key Indian state polls begin in test for Modi’s party
3 minutes -
Gomoa Easter Carnival in photos
10 minutes -
Gov’t orders removal of fuel taxes to ease pump price hikes
15 minutes -
“Whatever the decision of CAS, we will respect it” – CAF President Motsepe after AFCON final meetings in Morocco
32 minutes -
Emma Ankrah: When waiting becomes part of treatment – Reflections on hospital care
36 minutes -
Ghana urges travellers to prepare for new EU border system roll-out
45 minutes -
Mahama enforces fuel coupon ban for ministers as cabinet moves to slash fuel taxes
49 minutes -
Task force probes strange fish deaths in Tema
52 minutes -
Neglected traffic lights turn Awoshie–Anyaa highway into deadly hotspot
1 hour -
EOCO declares Dr Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple a fugitive over alleged gold fraud
1 hour -
GSE records GH¢1.09bn trade in equity market; 10 stocks register gains
2 hours -
Fuel prices: Ghana places 15th in Africa
2 hours -
Africa must look inward: Reframing resilience in a shifting global economy
2 hours -
9 dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes on Volta Lake
2 hours -
Miss Diaspora Ghana 2026 launched to deepen diaspora ties and drive development
2 hours