20 years too long for Ghana

It has been twenty years since Ghana's Black Stars last lifted the African Cup of Nations Trophy. In the Libyan capital Tripoli, a young Abedi Pele came on as a substitute in a final that went to a penalty shoot-out against the host nation.

Ghana celebrated victory after defeating Libya 7-6 on penalties.

But Ghana's FA Chairman Ben Koufie says 20 years is too long to have waited for another victory.

Ghana's tough draw

Mr. Koufie thinks the Cup of Nations draw in Bamako was quite balanced, but concedes Ghana has a tough task ahead.

Drawn in Group B with South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Morocco's Atlas Lions, Ghana need to plan their preparation well if they are to qualify to the second round as one of the top two teams.

Koufie says a plan is in place for the Black Stars.

Preparations will start in October, ane end with a tour of both West and East Africa, with a final friendly game against Egypt.

Given that Burkina Faso are now in Ghana's group for Mali 2002, Mr. Koufie says he may have to revise their plan to have the final stage of their preparation in that country.

Home based versus overseas players

Ghana's FA recently decided that home based players should make up the bulk of any national team as part of a five year plan to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Although the GFA boss says he favours using home based players for the start of the Nations Cup build-up, the overseas players do have a part to play.

"Ghanaians playing abroad are still Ghanaians" he says.

He continues "We must monitor them carefully to make sure they are active, and not warming the benches at their clubs"

Mr. Koufie believes Ghana must not limit itself to home based players alone, and says coach Fred Osam- Duodu must carefully compare the standards of those abroad, with what Ghana has at home, and produce "a formidable team".

"Ghana used to be in the final quite often, and not to have won the trophy for 20 long years is not a good thing" says Ben Koufie.

He added, "we must make a bold attempt at stopping this trend in Mali".