Black Stars mobbed in Tamale

Thoughts that the Black Stars have lost their shine since the World Cup were firmly put to rest in Tamale on Monday afternoon when thousands turned up to welcome the team ahead of Wednesday's clash against Guinea.

Thousands of football fans many on motorbikes shocked players of the national team when they turned up their numbers to welcome the team at the Tamale Airport.

In what seems like a direct answer to the many critics who paint a gloomy picture for the future of the national team, fans in Tamale, in huge numbers proved that the Black Stars is still cherished by many as police struggled desperately to hold back the thousands who were bent on meeting their star players.

On the teams' arrival at the Tamale airport, on Monday, ahead of Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Guinea, the ecstatic fans, overjoyed by the historic sight, chanted the names of players while accompanying it with melodious tunes from the drums of the north to welcome the team.

The Black Stars reciprocated the goodwill by getting close to the fans, many of whom were on motorbikes, to wave at them and thank them for the support which positively surprised the players.

"The support has been amazing. We want to thank the fans who have come here in their number to greet and welcomes us," Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan told reporters after greeting the fans.

"We are happy with what we have seen here and we know that victory and good performance is what they want on Wednesday and we will give them exactly that.", he said.

As the team made its way to the team hotel motorbike riders numbering more than 200 led the convoy with the names of players being chanted by the fans. The team was also greeted as it moved through the City of Tamale by crowds of well-wishers, many citizen photographers and media personnel as the team bus made its way to the team's hotel.

Some of th fans , including delighted family members of the 5 players in the squad who hail from Tamale, held aloft glittering banners welcoming the team home.

The reception looks to be a directly opposite to the attitude of some fans in Kumasi who turned up to boo the Black Stars in their previous match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium last month when they played Uganda.

Some of the supporters before the Black Stars arrived in the city had made the point on various media platforms in the city that, since this was the first time the Black Stars were going to play a competitive match in the city, they were going to show the team tremendous support than it had ever experienced, to ensure that the GFA continues to schedule Black Star matches in the city.