After failing to win the continent’s biggest trophy as a player, the Black Stars new coach is poised to end the country’s run without a major title
Ghana coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor has insisted that he will avoid mistakes his predecessors made which cost the country the chance of winning Africa Cup of Nations.
Since 1982, the Black Stars have failed in all their attempts to clinch the biannual competition, losing the final in 1992, 2010 and 2015 but were surprisingly bundled out in Round of 16 in 2019 edition staged in Egypt.
The outcome triggered Ghana Football Association’s decision not to renew former coach Kwasi Appiah’s contract and Akonnor, who deputised the former at a point, hopes to make amends.
“It’s not about me but about us. It’s been over thirty something years we’ve not won the Afcon. I don’t want to be any of the coaches that comes and just goes and it’s the same story,” Akonnor told Michael Oti Adjei of TV3, in an interview.
“I want us to work and at least do something to be relevant,” he added.
Akonnor also admitted that he is aware people have doubts concerning his appointment but believes if the Black Stars’ games against Sudan and Soa Tome weren’t postponed because of COVID-19, the narrative would’ve changed.
“It’s a bit uncomfortable because of all the demands,” he said. “I know a lot of people who have doubts but if we had played the two matches against Sudan and Sao Tome, by now there will be different views concerning my appointment.
“I’m a discipline person [and] my time I don’t joke with it. Once we have decided it’s five o’clock [that we are meeting], let’s do it five. Once we say six o’clock and we agree and you come thirty minutes late then it is a problem and I won’t shy away from letting you know that it’s a problem.
“These [are things] people term it to be like I’m a quick-tempered person,” he concluded.
Ghana top Group C of the 2021 Afcon qualifiers with six points, after victories over South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.